Mike O'Connor
Liège–Bastogne–Liège is the oldest of cycling’s five Monuments, first held in 1892, and is widely regarded as one of the toughest one-day races in the world.
Run over more than 250 kilometres in the men’s race and around 150 kilometres in the women’s, “La Doyenne” or “The Old Lady,” is less about explosive moments and more about sustained attrition.
With over 4,000 metres of climbing in the men’s edition, what makes Liège unique is the constant succession of short, steep climbs, especially in the final 100 kilometres, where races are usually decided. This means it rewards patience and endurance perhaps more than any of the other Monuments.
Of course Australia has a strong history at the race, with our legacy built on two defining victories that came in very different ways.
Gerrans times it to perfection
In 2014, Simon Gerrans delivered a breakthrough not just for himself, but for Australian cycling.
The 100th edition of one of cycling’s most iconic and prized events began under calm blue skies. ‘A beautiful day of racing’ was how defending champion Dan Martin described it.
The race was shaped, as it often is, on the succession of climbs in the final third. The Côte de La Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons proved decisive, with the latter whittling the contenders down to a small elite group.
Gerrans made the key selection alongside riders including Alejandro Valverde and Michał Kwiatkowski, ensuring he would be in position when the race came back together over the run-in to Ans.
Unlike editions won with a late solo attack, 2014’s edition reset after the final climb, leaving a reduced group to contest the finish. That dynamic suited Gerrans perfectly. Known for his sharp sprint after a hard day, he conserved energy on the approach to the line while others probed for late moves.
The uphill finish in Ans is long however. Gerrans waited, held his line, and launched late. He came around Valverde in the final metres to take the win, becoming the first Australian to claim Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
It was a tactically flawless ride, built on positioning, patience, and confidence in his sprint.
“It’s a race that’s all about positioning and patience,” Gerrans said after the finish. “You have to be there at the right moments, but you also need to keep something in reserve for the final.”
Brown goes all in from Roche-aux-Faucons
A decade later, Grace Brown produced one of the most authoritative wins seen in the women’s race.
She’d come close before, with two runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2022.
The 2024 edition was aggressive through the Ardennes, but the defining moment came on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, the final major climb before the run to Liège. Brown attacked decisively on the ascent, creating immediate separation from a group of favourites.
Crucially, she did not hesitate once clear. Rather than waiting for the race to regroup, she committed to a sustained solo effort over the remaining kilometres. Behind her, the chase group struggled to organise. Marking between rivals and a lack of cohesion allowed Brown’s advantage to grow.
From the summit of Roche-aux-Faucons to the finish, Brown rode with control and clarity. The terrain after the final climb is still demanding, with undulations and technical sections that can punish any lapse in focus.
She maintained her rhythm throughout, extending her lead and removing any doubt about the outcome.
“You can’t switch off for a second in a race like this,” she said. “I just focused on keeping the pressure on all the way to the line.”
“There’s something special about this race that brings out the best in me,” Brown wrote on Instagram after the historic win.
“I really can’t describe how big this feels right now! It’s been a difficult spring, but today puts it all behind.”
Liège–Bastogne–Liège is on SBS Viceland and SBS On Demand tonight.
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
