Tadej Pogacar is back. And we have Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock too. This Sunday marks the grand finale of the spring classics with Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the fourth of cycling's five monuments. As the peloton gears up for this grueling test of endurance and strategy, all eyes are on these three cycling titans.

2024 Liege-Bastogne-Liege Course Preview

The 254.5 km race, slightly shorter than last year, begins and ends in Liège, Belgium, featuring eleven stiff climbs that define this monument. After a relatively calm start perfect for early breakaways, the race heats up post-Bastogne with a sequence of climbs: the Mont-le-Soie followed by iconic ascents like Haute-Levée and La Redoute. These climbs, particularly the revised run-up to La Redoute, are where the race's decisive moments typically unfold. The climb, Roche-aux-Faucons, leaves about 12 kilometers to race.

Pogacar Leads Liege-Bastogne-Liege 2024 Favorites

Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quick Step) smashed Liège-Bastogne-Liège to bits for victory in 2022 and 2023. He's not racing due to the massive crash, resulting in a broken collarbone and shoulder blade in the Tour of the Basque Country. 2020 winner Primoz Roglic (Bora-Hansgrohe) wanted to race, but he too is recovering from the same crash.

Tadej Pogacar (UAE Emirates), the 2021 Liège-Bastogne-Liège winner, returns as the favorite. He is seeking to rebound from last year's crash and fractured wrist that ruined his Tour de France prep. The Slovenian star uses this race as a springboard for the upcoming Giro d'Italia. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who destroyed his Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix rivals, aims to add another monument to his resume. But it's a tough task for the Dutch big boy on a course like this and he admitted to feeling less than his best after the Amstel Gold Race. Tom Pidcock (Ineos-Grenadiers), though, his climbing capabilities are not in question. The Brit comes in as one of the hot favorites on the heels of the Amstel Gold Race victory.

A few more names to mention: Canadian Michael Woods (Israel-Premier Tech) – who will be riding shotgun with Flèche Wallonne winner Stephen Williams. They can also count on teammate Dylan Teuns. Brabantse Pijl winner Benoît Cosnefroy (Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale), who also looked good in Flèche Wallonne. Marc Hirschi and Juan Ayuso, Pogacar's UAE star helpers. And I should mention, Matteo Jorgenson took a flight back to Idaho and so the battle-worn super-team Visma-Lease a Bike relies on Tiesj Benoot.

The Liege-Bastogne-Liege Femmes 2024 Favorites

In the women's race, which covers 153 kilometers with the same final, we should look at Team SD Worx to dominate. 2023 winner Demi Vollering and her world champion teammate Lotte Kopecky. Flèche Wallonne winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez)

Of course, when we are talking about Liège-Bastogne-Liège favorites, a lot depends on how riders survived the biblical conditions of Flèche Wallonne just four days prior. Pidcock suffered. Others, like Pogacar and Van der Poel, were training in southern Europe.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege Weather Forecast

It's going to be a grim day in Wallonia for Liège-Bastogne-Liège mega classic. The temperatures in Liège are forecasted to only reach a maximum of 8°C or 47°F. Not much in the way of wind, predicted from the north, so a headwind in the second half, but probable light to heavy showers will add an extra layer of challenge.

How To Watch The 2024 Liege-Bastogne-Liege

FloBikes viewers in Canada can watch 2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège live and on demand this Sunday. And for everyone on the planet, we will have in-depth reports and highlights available.

Tadej Pogacar is back. Is there anything Mathieu van der Poel or Tom Pidcock can do to stop him? Tune in this Sunday for the 2024 Liège-Bastogne-Liège.