The oldest of the classics by age, in 111 editions held so far Liège-Bastogne-Liège has spoken above all Belgian: 61 victories for the home riders, clearly ahead of whoever follows, Italy, stuck at 12 for nearly twenty years (Di Luca, the last of ours, in 2007). Merckx the most successful, the only one to achieve five wins, followed by Argentin and Valverde with four. The last major spring appointment before the grand tours, the oldest monument classic shares with Lombardia the title of toughest race: to live up to its name it covers 259 kilometers with eleven climbs with nasty gradients, nine of which concentrated in the final ninety kilometers, starting with Stockeu and Haute Levee, continuing with the iconic Redoute, up to Roche aux Facons, thirteen kilometers from the finish, which seals the winning move or inspires it. Despite major absences (Vingegaard, Van der Poel and Van Aert), the last appointment of the Ardennes offers an excellent cast: here are the ten faces that are candidates for the top of the podium.

Tadej Pogacar. He wins because he's already succeeded three times, because the harder the races the more he likes them, because when the competition is stimulating as in this case he's even more motivated. He doesn't win because like at Roubaix sometimes fortune turns its back on him.

Remco Evenepoel. He wins because the success at Amstel has given him even more drive, because in this classic he's already achieved a double, because he wants to prove that in one-day races he's not worse than Pogacar. He doesn't win because when Pogacar is around he has to settle for his wheel.

Paul Seixas. He wins because he just devoured the Freccia with record-breaking pace, because at 19 years old he has no intention of growing slowly, because he has the chance to take the title of anti-Pogacar. He doesn't win because experience doesn't come all at once and in this classic it matters.

Mattias Skjelmose. He wins because he's arrived in the Ardennes with the right pace, because he has the right qualities to hit the mark, because he's good at playing the role of third wheel. He doesn't win because in this classic for one reason or another he's never managed to perform well.

Giulio Ciccone. He wins because he's calibrated his entire spring on this race, because a year ago he finished in second place, because he wants to find something beautiful to tell his friend Sinner. He doesn't win because so far he's raced little and his teammate Skjelmose is in better shape than him.

Tom Pidcock. He wins because this year in the classics he's gone very well, because in this race the last three times he's finished in the top ten with a second place, because he had an excellent warm-up at the Tour of the Alps. He doesn't win because he doesn't feel at his best and a good placing would make him happy.

Romain Gregoire. He wins because he always races up front, because he came out great from Amstel and Freccia, because in this season his self-confidence has grown. He doesn't win because he's been going strong for a couple of months and the reserve tank warning light could come on.

Kevin Vauquelin. He wins because he's arrived in the North in good health, because on the climbs he's one of those who doesn't give up, because with his teammate Laurance he forms a good underdog pair. He doesn't win because so far in his career he's done better in stage races than in classics.

Mauro Schmid. He wins because this is his best spring, because he raced Amstel and Freccia as a protagonist, because in addition to legs that are turning well he has very high morale. He doesn't win because in monument classics he's never had memorable performances.

Ben Tulett. He wins because it's the classic he knows best, because he seems to have found his best form at just the right moment, because Visma has great confidence in him. He doesn't win because finishing the Freccia on the podium doesn't mean he can repeat it at Liège.