Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2026 Preview

The Lanterne Rouge Cycling Podcast delivers a detailed preview of the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège men's and women's races, highlighting the evolving nature of the men's event as a high-stakes attrition race dominated by Tadej Pogacar's dominance on La Redoute. The hosts analyze the race’s demanding route—featuring the Côte d'Avane, Stokk, Col du Rosier, and the pivotal La Redoute and Roche-en-Faucon climbs—and debate whether Pogacar’s UAE team, weakened by injuries and squad changes, can maintain their usual control. They assess Remco Evenepoel’s form and positioning challenges, questioning if he can break the established script by attacking earlier. Pauline Fèlan-Péreau and Demi Vollering emerge as key contenders in the women’s race, with FDJ Suez’s strategy of either controlling the race or launching a surprise attack being scrutinized. The hosts express hope for more drama and anticipation moves, especially in the women’s race, and reflect on broader issues in cycling, including the need for more 'villains' to generate excitement, the lack of international crossover stars, and the urgent need for better mental and physical health support—particularly around eating disorders in women’s cycling. The episode closes with a lighthearted tangent on athletes’ side projects, including Jonas Vingegaard’s wife launching an app and Grace Faulkner’s AI coding pursuits. Key takeaways include: 1) Pogacar remains the favorite due to his proven dominance on La Redoute, despite a weakened UAE team; 2) Remco Evenepoel’s success hinges on better positioning and a potential early attack, but the standard game plan still favors Pogacar; 3) The women’s race is wide open, with Demi Vollering as the favorite, but anticipation moves by riders like Pauline Fèlan-Péreau or Paula Blassie could shake up the outcome; 4) The podcast advocates for more narrative-driven drama in cycling, including trash talk and bold personalities, to elevate the sport’s profile; 5) There is growing concern about athlete mental and physical health, especially in women’s cycling, with calls for systemic screening and greater openness around eating disorders; 6) Athletes like Grace Faulkner and Jonas Vingegaard’s wife are increasingly engaging in non-racing ventures, reflecting a shift in athlete identity beyond the peloton.