Li�ge-Bastogne-Li�ge Challenge (LBL) Sportive 2016

Liège–Bastogne–Liège, often called La Doyenne ("the oldest"), is one of the five Monuments of the European professional road cycling calendar. First held in 1892, it takes place each year in the Ardennes region of Belgium, from Liège to Bastogne and back. This "challenge" sportive is your chance to ride the same course as the pros will follow a day later, cobbles and all. You can choose to ride the full 279km course, but shorter routes of 167km and 85km are also guaranteed to test your legs!

Cycling Weekly said of the race: "In purely physical terms, this is probably the toughest classic: the climbs are long, most of them are pretty steep as well, and they come up with depressing frequency in the final kilometers."

It may be tough, but the Belgians are known for their passion for cycling and a festival atmosphere surrounds the event with live music, food stalls and general merriment helping distract you from the pain. Best of all, the next day you get to relax by the roadside eating chips and watching the pro peloton make it look easy. If that sounds like your cup of tea beer, sign up via the website and get training!

Entries for LBL 2017 are expected to go on sale in early December 2016. Why not sign up to the Sportive.com newsletter and get reminders about when all the top sportive entries go on sale?

To get an idea of what you're in for, why not check out our reports on some other Spring Classics sportives:

Ronde van Vlaanderen Challenge

Paris-Roubaix Challenge