In the Amblève valley, between Remouchamps and the Ardennes plateau, the Côte de la Redoute needs only 1.6 km to earn its place among cycling’s most feared climbs: a steep wall packed with fans on Liège-Bastogne-Liège day, when the professional race explodes into life every spring.
The decisive climb of cycling’s oldest Monument
Added to the route of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1975, La Redoute was for a long time the last major difficulty before the finish: until the early 1990s, a breakaway that crested it with even a small gap became almost impossible to reel in on the fast, flat run to Liège that followed. The finale has since been reshaped, with the addition of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas and an uphill finish in Ans, but La Redoute remains the symbolic moment when the race truly tips into gear, around 30 km from the finish. The name comes from a redoubt, a fortified earthwork built at its summit during the Franco-Austrian War of 1792, now marked by a commemorative monument.
The profile from Remouchamps
From the hamlet of Remouchamps, at the bottom of the Amblève valley, the road climbs 1.6 km for around 160 m of elevation gain, averaging 9.5% and reaching 20% on the steepest section, right out of the valley. The profile is uneven, with a very hard initial ramp followed by a partial flattening before a final steep push that spills onto the farmland plateau toward Sprimont.
Getting the ride right
A wide-range cassette, around 30 to 32 teeth, is strongly recommended so the initial wall doesn’t catch you out. On Liège-Bastogne-Liège day, the road is packed with fans along its full length, with a party atmosphere reminiscent of the great Flemish walls; outside of that date, the climb reverts to a quiet country road, ideal for training in the footsteps of the professionals.
When to go
March to October, though the road is rideable year-round; it can get slippery in rain or frost on this steep, sometimes shaded surface. The passage of Liège-Bastogne-Liège in late April draws plenty of cyclotourists each year, keen to climb the wall before or after the professionals come through.
Good to know
Aywaille and Remouchamps offer a handful of convenient places to stay at the foot of the climb, with quick access to Liège, around 30 minutes away by road, making it easy to combine this ascent with other Ardennes classics such as the Mur de Huy or the Roche-aux-Faucons.