The Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Do you like cycling?  Are you a fan?

We aren't.  BUT, we know that we are in the minority here in Belgium, where cycling is one of the preferred sports.  People go nuts for it here, and tomorrow is the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which is apparently one of THE BIG races of the European cycling calendar, happening every year at the end of April.

Tchantchès tells me that it is considered to be one of the last big ones before the start of the Tour de France, so people are already frothing at the mouth with speculation over the Tour, along with their regular excitement at attending a very old and established race in the world of cycling.  Today the excitement was visible and audible in Liège, with people decked out in racing jerseys on their own bikes, and accents from around the world speaking about tomorrow's race.

A world famous cycling race in my own backyard...who knew?  Not me.  But if you've arrived here because you Googled it, you probably did.

Unfortunately I can't tell you much about the race, other than to say that I (now) know that though the race is already known to be quite hilly and a true test of stamina, there is a section of the race that is known for it's difficult series of 5 hills that all fall within the same 30 kilometre stretch (close to the end of the race, to boot,) and that though one of those hills was missing last year (due to needed road-work) it has been put back in this year.  Before I make myself look like any more of a ninny, I'll direct you to Wikipedia if you want historical information about the race, and to The Tour de France organization's coverage of the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which helpfully provides those wanting to check the race out with a detailed course-map and the approximate times the race ought to be passing by given locations during the race.