The final run-in
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Philippe Gilbert battles his way up the Stockeu last year, one of the key climbs in Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Pic: Sirotti)
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The Cote de Stockeu may be short - but it's very steep (Pic: Sirotti)
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The Stockeu wounds you, but it is the Haute-Levee that finishes you off - just ask Joaquim Rodriguez, who was dropped on the ascent last year (pic: Sirotti)
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Julien Arredondo goes deep as he battles with Jan Bakelants on La Redoute (pic: Sirotti)
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The residential street of the Cote de Saint-Nicolas may not look pretty but it offers a last chance for a solo attack (pic: Sirotti)
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Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha, left) and Dan Martin (Cannondale-Garmin, right) race up the final, uncategorised ascent at Liege-Bastogne-Liege (Pic: Sirotti)
The final run-in
The lumpy course may include ten categorised climbs but there are also a number of uncategorised rises to conquer.
Most famous, of course, is the uphill finish in to Ans where the final showdown is held – Simon Gerrans winning a bunch kick last year, and Dan Martin taking a two-up sprint against Joaquim Rodriguez the year before.
Though it’s not a categorised ascent, this is a definite sting in the tail at the end of a 253km race and enough to kill any late breakaway if the gap isn’t big enough. The nature of the slope – steep and straight – means any chasing riders can see their target, ready to reel them in.
And it’s not just the ramp that can cost a rider their chance of winning, Dan Martin discovered last year when he slid out on the final bend.
It’s never over until it’s over.