Riders will face nine major climbs in the final 100 kilometers

The route of the final Monument of the 2011 spring classic season, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, has been released, and while it will remain mostly the same as last year’s, a critical threesome returns to the festivities: the Cote de Wanne, Cote de Stockeu and Cote de la Haute-Levee.

The Wanne and Stockeu were part of the 2010 edition, but the Haute-Levee was left out because of its poor road surface. With the Haute-Levee back, one of the race’s most critical sections is back intact, ensuring that riders will receive no respite in their return trip to Liege.

“Everybody loves the Trilogie,” said Christian Prudhomme to Pierre Capart and quoted in Cyclism’Actu. “It is part of the legend. When it was reintroduced in 2005, everyone was satisfied. We are delighted to bring the Haute Levee back. It was removed last year for security reasons, but efforts have been made to allow the riders to return.”

The 255 kilometer journey through the Ardennes from Liege to Bastogne and back will include ten climbs, nine of which will be compressed into the final 100 kilometers, forming one of the most difficult finales in cycling.

Many of the favorites for April 24th’s La Doyenne are currently hard at work in the Basque Country, while the region’s star, Philippe Gilbert, just wrapped up another solid effort in Flanders. He won’t take part in Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, but will return to racing the Sunday after to defend his title at the Amstel Gold Race, the first race of the Ardennes Triptych comprised of the Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

• Km 71.0 – Côte de Saint Roch – 0.8 km climb to 12 %
• Km 157.0 – Côte de Wanne – 2.7 km climb to 7 %
• Km 164.0 – Côte de Stockeu (Stèle Eddy Merckx) – 1.1 km climb to 10.5 %
• Km 170.0 – Cote de la Haute-Levee
• Km 183.0 – Col du Rosier – 6.4 km climb to 4 %
• Km 195.0 – Col du Maquisard – 2.8 km climb to 4.5 %
• Km 206.0 – Mont-Theux – 2.7 km climb to 5.2 %
• Km 220.0 – Côte de la Redoute – 2.1 km climb to 8.4 %
• Km 236.0 – Côte de la Roche aux Faucons – 1.5 km climb to 9.9 %
• Km 250.0 – Côte de Saint-Nicolas – 1.0 km climb to 11.1 %