On April 21, 2024, the 110th edition of the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège one-day race will take place, marking the 19th event of the 2024 UCI World Tour. This classic Belgian race, renowned for its grueling climbs and relentless challenges, will push the world’s best cyclists to their limits over a grueling 259-kilometer course.

The Route: A Treacherous Journey

The route for Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 is a true test of endurance, featuring all the iconic climbs that have made this race legendary. From the Côte de Bonnerue at kilometer 89.5 to the flat finish in central Liège, the peloton will face a relentless barrage of ascents and descents.

After passing through Bastogne at kilometer 107, the race takes a turn back towards Liège, where the real challenges begin. The Côte de Saint-Roch, a 1-kilometer climb with an 11.2% average gradient, awaits at kilometer 130.6, followed by a relatively flat section before the Côte de Wanne (3.6km at 5.1%) looms at 85 kilometers to go.

The Climbs: A Gauntlet of Suffering

From there, the climbs come in rapid succession, each one more daunting than the last. The Côte de Stockeu (1km at 12.5%) and Côte de Haute-Levée (2.2km at 7.5%) follow within 15 kilometers, testing the riders’ strength and endurance.

The Col du Rosier, the longest of the eight key climbs at 4.4 kilometers with an average gradient of 5.9%, peaks at 60.1 kilometers to go, offering little respite before the next challenge.

The Côte de Desnié (1.6km at 8.1%), a relatively new addition to the race, precedes the iconic Côte de la Redoute and Côte des Forges, known for their propensity to spark long-range attacks.

The Decisive Moment: Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons
With only 13.4 kilometers remaining, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3km at 11%) presents the final opportunity for riders to make a decisive move before the fast run-in to the finish line in Liège.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 promises to be a true test of endurance, mental fortitude, and physical prowess, as the world’s best cyclists battle against each other and the relentless terrain in one of the most iconic one-day races on the calendar.

The 2024 edition of the iconic La Flèche Wallonne one-day race promises to be a grueling test of strength and endurance for the world’s best cyclists. On April 17, 2024, the peloton will embark on a challenging journey from the Belgian city of Charleroi to the municipality of Huy, marking the 88th edition of this prestigious event and the 18th race of the 2024 UCI World Tour.

The Men’s Race: A Battle on the Mur de Huy The men’s La Flèche Wallonne will cover a distance of 199.1 kilometers, starting from Charleroi for the first time since 2021. Over the course of the day, riders will face a total of nine climbs, including four ascents of the infamous Mur de Huy, a 1.3-kilometer climb with an average gradient of 9.6%.

The Mur de Huy will be a decisive factor, with the peloton tackling this leg-breaking ascent at 104.1 kilometers, 135.8 kilometers, 167.5 kilometers, and finally at the finish line.

The Women’s Race: Longer and More Challenging The 2024 edition of La Flèche Wallonne Femmes will be a true test of endurance, with a total distance of 143.5 kilometers. The race will start from the Grand-Place in Huy and culminate with the daunting ascent of the Mur de Huy at the finish line.

This year’s route includes three new climbs: Côte de Gives, Côte de Courrière, and Côte d’Évrehailles, all located within the first 50 kilometers of the race. The course will be approximately 15 kilometers longer than the previous edition, further challenging the riders’ stamina and determination.

The Climbs

A Leg-Breaking Challenge In addition to the iconic Mur de Huy, both the men’s and women’s races will feature several other challenging climbs, including:

Women’s Race:

• Côte de Gives (km 7.1)
• Côte de Courrière (km 35.1)
• Côte d’Évrehailles (km 50.8)
• Côte d’Ereffe (2.1km at 5%) – twice (km 98.9 and 130.6)

Men’s Race:

• Côte d’Yvoir (km 43.2)
• Côte d’Ereffe (km 91.2, 122.9, 154.6, and 186.2)

With its grueling climbs and legendary ascents, the 2024 La Flèche Wallonne promises to be a spectacle of human endurance and a true test of the riders’ physical and mental fortitude.

Rafael Nadal Withdraws from Monte Carlo, leaving fans and tennis enthusiasts concerned about his participation in the upcoming French Open. The 22-time Grand Slam winner and 37-year-old Spaniard announced his decision to pull out of the Monte Carlo Masters due to persistent physical issues.

In a heartfelt message on social media, Nadal expressed his disappointment, stating, “Unfortunately I have to tell you that I am not going to be playing in Monte Carlo. My body simply won’t allow me.” The star player has been plagued by injuries throughout the 2023 season, with his last competitive match being a quarter-final defeat to Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International in January.

Since then, Nadal has missed several high-profile tournaments, including the Australian Open, Doha, and Indian Wells. His only on-court appearance was an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Las Vegas in March, where observers noted some discomfort in his back.

Despite his best efforts to recover and compete at the tournaments that have been crucial to his success, Nadal acknowledged the challenges he faces.

“The only thing I can do is to accept the situation and try to look at the immediate future keeping the excitement and will to play in order to give me a chance for things to get better,” he said.

Nadal’s withdrawal from Monte Carlo, a tournament he has won a record 11 times, is a significant blow to his preparations for the French Open. Nadal has leveraged his 11 Monte Carlo victories as a launchpad for his 9 French Open titles.

Tournament director David Massey expressed his sadness at Nadal’s absence, stating, “I’m sad, for the fans who won’t have the chance to see him, but especially for him because this Monte Carlo tournament is really important for him.”

Tennis fans, get ready for an exciting week of action at the Monte Carlo Masters 2024! As the third ATP 1000 event of the year, all eyes will be on the players, especially Jannik Sinner, who has been making waves in the tennis world.

When and Where?

The tournament kicks off on Monday, April 8th, 2024, and concludes with the men’s final on Sunday, April 14th, 2024. Play starts around 10am UK time each day. The Monte Carlo Country Club, located just over the border in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, will host the event.

How to Watch in the UK

If you’re in the UK, you can catch all the action live on Sky Sports. You can add Sky Sports channels to your package from just £18 per month or opt for the complete sports package at £25 per month.

Sky Sports customers can also live stream the tournament via the Sky Go app on their smartphones, tablets, and other devices as part of their subscription.

Not a Sky Sports subscriber? No problem! You can still watch the Monte Carlo Masters 2024 via NOW without signing up for a contract. NOW can be streamed through a computer or apps available on most smart TVs, phones, and consoles. You can also access NOW through TNT Sports.

The Rising Star

Jannik Sinner After clinching his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and winning the Miami Open last weekend, Jannik Sinner has positioned himself as the world No. 2, sandwiched between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. This summer presents a massive opportunity for Sinner to climb to the top, with the French Open and Wimbledon on the horizon. However, he must maintain his momentum by performing well in spring tournaments like the Monte Carlo Masters.

Don’t miss out on this thrilling week of tennis action! Tune in to the Monte Carlo Masters 2024 and witness the best players in the world compete on the picturesque clay courts of the Monte Carlo Country Club.