A coming of age

January 25 ^th 2018 - 12:29

Twenty-one years old represents the age of maturity for this race which, more than any other on the women's calendar, deserves its status as a classic. Its roll of honour is more than sufficient proof: only the greatest riders feature on it, in particular the untouchable Anna Van der Breggen over the last three years.

The olympic champion's grand slam of the Ardennes Classics last year made a lasting impression, but the Dutchwoman is not expecting to find an unchanged route this year. Women's cycling boasts an invigorating nature and the 118.5 km between Huy and Huy this year again proposes two climbs up the famous Mur de Huy, but is also spicing things up with the addition, after 83.5 kilometres, of a first ascent of the Côte de Cherave slope, which the riders skirted round last year.