Man, the Classics flew by. It’s like summer vacation when you were a kid. One day it’s Opening Weekend, and here we are thinking about Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
By Sunday evening, the curtain drops on the Classics, with Liège once again deciding who leaves Ardennes week with the final word. The oldest Monument still carries that weight — and right now, it also carries a familiar question: how do you beat Tadej Pogačar? Or… how can you? Might it be a teenager from France? As in, Paul Seixas?
Seixas vs. Pogi?
The Slovenian arrives as both world champion and defending winner, having already stacked his spring with major victories. When he’s on this kind of run, Liège tends to become less of a chess match and just an all-out tough, tough day. The climbs aren’t brutally long, but they come in waves, and that’s where he’s been untouchable. That’s where the world champ thrives.
The route hasn’t changed much in spirit. It’s still 250-plus km for the men, and 156 for the women. It’s just brutal throughout and full of attrition. And as they get closer to the finish, well, that’s where the fun begins. Wanne, Stockeu, Haute-Levée, then the reset before La Redoute.
That’s the moment everyone watches. If it hasn’t gone already, it usually goes there. And if it’s still together after Roche-aux-Faucons, something’s gone wrong. (But who knows anymore what happens in cycling. Old scripts have been replaced with new strategies.)
And Evenepoel?
Remco Evenepoel is flying. He’s won here twice and knows exactly how to handle the finale, but his spring has been uneven compared to Pogačar’s near-flawless run. Skipping Flèche Wallonne raised a few eyebrows, though it also says he has clear goals. And one of them is Sunday.
Then there’s Paul Seixas, the wildcard who doesn’t really feel like one anymore. Like, at all. He has arrived. His surge through the Basque Country and a statement ride at Flèche Wallonne have shifted expectations quickly. Whether that translates to a 260-kilometre Monument is another question, but he won’t be waiting around. But who knows anymore?
Behind them, it’s a deep field: riders like Mattias Skjelmose, Kévin Vauquelin and Ben Tulett all hovering if things open up. But honestly, it will come down to Pogi, Seixas and Evenepoel.
A day for Vallières Mill
All the start lists are still being finalized, but one rider that is confirmed for the women’s race is world champion Magdeleine Vallières Mill. The Sherbrooke cyclist has been targeting the Ardennes races, and was up there in the mix at La Flèche Wallonne. She was there in the mix, sixth—but honestly the midweek race doesn’t suit her as much. The EF Education-Oatly rider thrives on attrition, not a punchy finish. So LBL might be a good day for her.
As far as other Canadians, so far Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Hugo Houle is listed, but undoubtedly more will come. It would be great to see Lidl-Trek’s Isabella Holmgren racing Liège; the course would suit her (and her twin sister Ava!).
Canadian Cycling Magazine will update the start list soon, and will also have full coverage of both the men’s and women’s races.