Trees lying on the side of winding, sometimes dilapidated roads. Nine months later, on the morning of the start of the 108th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Sunday April 24, the traces of the fatal floods that occurred in Belgium last July are still widely visible around Liège. The overflow of Meuse, Ourthe and Vesdre had caused the death of 39 people in Belgium, mainly in the towns of the Liège region. “We lost people we knew, here from Remouchamps, says Jérôme Gilbert, one of the brothers of Lotto-Soudal rider Philippe Gilbert, a native of Verviers, 30 kilometers from Liège. VSit’s touching to experience dramas like that.”
In July 2021, the province of Liège had indeed been one of the regions most affected by the natural disaster. “My parents had 80 centimeters of water at home, says Pascal Carpentier, president of the municipal council of Aywaille. Many houses are still being repaired and rehabilitation work is still in progress in this steep-sided valley of the Ardennes. “Philippe’s early supporters (Gilbert) still don’t live at home“, continues Jerome.
The Doyenne des Classiques route has been modified accordingly and a recurring difficulty is missing: the ascent of the Côte des Forges. “Access is made difficult by the consequences of the dramatic floods last July”then wrote on the official site of the event Christian Prudhomme, director of cycling at ASO and in charge of the organization, to explain his absence from the program.
Access to this hill at the top of which sits a stele in homage to Stan Ockers (winner in 1955, who died two years later) has suffered particularly badly. Even today, the road traditionally taken by the race is closed to traffic, blocked by two imposing stones at its end. Only a man on his mountain bike ventures there before disappearing after the bend. He leaves on his left the barriers and a rubalise to prevent getting too close to the embankment where the many landslides are still visible. The road has become a partly gutted stone path, where the road bike no longer has its place.
“When we did the reconnaissance, the road that leads to the Côte des Forges was impassable.confirms Jean-Michel Monin, in charge of the course of the Doyenne. And we didn’t want to ask the road authorities to get it back in shape for the race, when there were more important priorities on a human level.
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The Côte des Forges, for its part, is largely practicable, like the Walloon Flèche which took it last Wednesday, or by several hundred riders engaged in the cyclosportive on the eve of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Failing to climb it, the amateurs descended it at full speed, like the professionals to reach Bastogne on Sunday.
A procession of enthusiasts which allows the Côte des Forges, and the chapel which adjoins it, to shine in better days. With Liège-Bastogne-Liège, an entire region is finally coming back to life. “We hope that the passage of the races will allow a very large public to escape from the problems of everyday life”projected Katty Firquet, vice-president of the province of Liège, during the presentation of the route which will pass through several hard-hit cities.
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Remouchamps is one of them. This small village of nearly 3,000 inhabitants, belonging to the commune of Aywaille, is especially famous for being the place where Philippe Gilbert spent his childhood. The latter had posted a video, on his Instagram account, of the floods hitting the village, just in front of the brasserie Le Cheval Blanc, haunt of his fan club.
“It’s the first time we’ve done something since the Covid, it’s the first big party in the villagerejoices the president of the municipal council Pascal Carpentier, from the coast of La Redoute where the festivities began on Friday. It’s important, normal life resumes.” Saturday, people flocked in small groups to attend a concert. The day before, it was a blind test. Activities related to the Doyenne and which allow the village to find a smile around the barbecue and a beer.
“I think it gives balm to the heartassures Laura Gilbert, the niece of the 2012 world champion. It’s not just the bike that can change people’s ideas, but it helps.” Jérôme Gilbert continues: “For those who have been affected, the race will be like an encouragement, to help them always move forward”.
For at least one day, the difficult memories will give way to the passion and joy that the myth of the Doyenne of the classics provokes. “We found the landscape we all knew“, concludes Laura, her gaze directed towards the green hills of the Ardennes.