Following a relatively flat opening through the Ardennes the Côte de Bonneure is the first climb crested with some 70 kilometres done. Another 30 kilometres down the road and the riders are in Bastogne at the Rond-Point de la Doyenne, which is the halfway turn point.
The route back to Liège is much hillier, although it still takes awhile for the race to show its teeth. The Côte de Saint-Roch in Houffalize – 1 kilometre at 11.2% – is the first climb and at kilometre 152 the Côte de Mont-le-Soie is crested. Still almost 10 kilometres to go before the uphill onslaught really begins.
Within a 12 kilometres interval the riders face the Côte du Pont, Côte de Bellevaux and Côte de la Ferme Libert. Following a number of minor ascents the Col du Rosier is the longest climb of the day, amounting to 4.4 kilometres and averaging 5.9%. Peaking at 565 metres, the Rosier marks the highest point of the day.
The route continues to the Col du Maquisard, a 2 kilometres climb at 5%, before the iconic Col de la Redoute looms. The emblematic hill amounts to 2 kilometres, while the average gradient is 8.9% and the steepest ramps are 13%. A short drop and equally short climb lead to Sprimont before a longer descent ushers in the finale.
First the short, steep Côte de la Roche aux Faucons (1,3 kilometres at 11%) and then it’s on to the energy sapping Côte de Saint-Nicolas – 1.1 kilometres with the steepest section of 10.9% in the first 500 metres, while the full ascent is averaging 8.6%. At the top there are only 5.5 kilometres left to race, the first 3 kilometres on descent and the last 1.5 kilometres go up at a nasty 5%.
Read also: results/race report 2018 Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2018: Route maps, height profiles and more
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Details Côte de Mont le soie
Details Côte de la Ferme Libert
Details Côte de la Redoute
Details Côte de la Roche aux Faucons
Details Côte de Saint Nicolas
Profile final 5 K
Scheduled times
Liege, Bastogne and Redoute at Google maps
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Route and profile Col du Rosier (east)
Streetview Col du Rosier
Col du Rosier at strava.com