Hinault's ride through snow & ice: The most famous stories from Liège-Bastogne-Liège

110th Liège-Bastogne-Liège: The most important facts in brief

• Date: 21 April 2024
• Distance: 259 km
• Key points: Cote de la Redoute, Cote de la Roche aux Faucons
• Start and finish: Liège
• To the race report of the women's race
• To the race report of the men's race
• Track, TV broadcast & live stream
• Mathieu van der Poel on the hunt for the next monument

8th Liège-Bastogne-Liège (women)

• Date: 21 April 2024
• Distance: 147.6 km
• Start: Bastogne
• Target: Liège
• Last year's winner: Demi Vollering

Everyman race: Liege-Bastogne-Liege Challenge

• Start and finish: Banneux
• Routes: 253 km, 155 km, 79 km

One of the oldest one-day races in the world

The Liège-Bastogne-Liège race was actually planned by the Liege Cyclists' Union and the Liege Cyclists' Club as preparation for the 845-kilometre Liège-Paris-Liège cycling marathon. But the "preparatory race" turned into a monument of cycling. The Ardennes classic, which has been held since 1892, is also known as "La Doyenne" (the oldest) - which is not entirely correct: Milan-Turin was first held in 1876, but only took place again from 1894 to the present day. It is undisputed that the route through the hills of Wallonia demands everything from the riders and is considered one of the toughest one-day races in the world.

Icy temperatures in the past

Tragedies and heroic deeds have been taking place in the French-speaking part of Belgium for more than a hundred years. It starts with the story of the first winner, Léon Houa. The Belgian had to complete the last ten kilometres towards Liège on one leg after a pedal broke off his bike. Probably the most memorable edition was won by Bernard Hinault in April 1980, when an icy, murderous wind blew at the start - at least it was dry. However, heavy snowfall soon set in. One rider after another took refuge in the cafés and bars at the side of the road. Hinault coped best with the conditions, finishing almost ten minutes ahead of Hennie Kuiper.

174 pros had started, only 21 reached Liège on the bike. Hinault normally rode in a short-sleeved jersey even in wind and weather. This time he had given in and wore a warm jacket. But it was only when Hinault took off his jacket, so the story went, that he pulled out the decisive lead. A Belgian newspaper ran the headline after the race: "Een Breton van Beton" (A Breton made of concrete). To this day, Hinault can no longer move the front phalanges of two fingers properly as a result of the snow race.

It was similarly frosty in 1957 and it is said that the riders peed on their fingers en route to at least thaw their freezing hands a little. Only 15 of 107 riders reached Liège and the winner was Germain Derijcke, a rider who had always claimed to be at his best in the heat. However, Derijcke's victory had an aftermath. Frans Schoubben lodged a protest because Derijcke had allegedly climbed over the barrier at a closed level crossing. Shortly afterwards, Schoubben's sporting director withdrew the protest and both riders have since been recognised as winners.

Unforgettable stories from Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Eddy Merckx, record winner with five victories, had to witness in 1970 how the brothers Roger and Erik De Vlaeminck joined forces and slowed him down. In the narrow tunnel in front of the velodrome in Liège, which was not visible to the public or the jury - at that time still the finish line - Erik is said to have signalled his brother's decisive attack with a whistle, while he himself rode in Merckx's way.

Merckx's long-time friend Patrick Sercu once told the following story: After the "cannibal" Merckx had missed out on winning the Fleche Wallone three days earlier in second place, Sercu spotted a lone cyclist from his car on the way to Liège. A blustery downpour of snow was falling across the country and no dog would have been sent outside. Sercu recognised the man on the bike immediately. It was Merckx, who had imposed a 100 kilometre "penalty" on himself. The following day, Merckx took his fourth of five victories at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Obstruction of routes and allegations of bribery

In 1988, there was a gap about 30 centimetres deep and one metre wide across the road. Because the marshals in Houffalize were not paying attention, the peloton raced towards the danger zone at a speed of 60 kilometres per hour. Not everyone managed to jump over the ditch - and a mass crash ensued.

The victory in 2010 is said to have been bought. The Kazakh Alexandr Vinokourov from Team Astana is said to have offered the Russian Alexandr Kolobnev 100,000 euros if he would let him win. The Swiss magazine "L'Ilustré" published an e-mail exchange between the two riders, which suggests that the race and the payment were colluded. Copies of transfers were available, but Vinokourov rejected the allegations and saw himself as the victim of a hacker attack. In 2019, a court acquitted Kolobnev and Vinokourov of the bribery allegation due to a lack of evidence.

Winners and favourites 2024 from Liège-Bastogne Liège

• Record winner: Eddy Merckx (5), Alejandro Valverde and Moreno Argentin (4 each)
• German winners: Hermann Buse (1930), Dietrich Thurau (1979)
• Last year's winner: Remco Evenepoel