Côte de Saint-Nicolas

50°38′26″N 5°32′19″E / 50.64056°N 5.53861°E / 50.64056; 5.53861

Côte de Saint-Nicolas
Top of the Côte de Saint-Nicolas during the Liège-Bastogne-Liège amateur challenge
LocationWallonia Wallonia
Belgium Belgium
StartSaint-Nicolas, Liège
Gain in altitude102 m (335 ft)
Length of climb1.42 km (0.88 mi)
Maximum elevation173 m (568 ft)
Average gradient7.6 %
Maximum gradient13 %

The Côte de Saint-Nicolas is a climb of Wallonia in the municipality of Saint-Nicolas in Belgium. It is often included in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège cycling classic, where it comes as one of the last difficulties, at approximately 6 km from the finish in the neighbouring municipality of Ans. With a length of 1.4 km at an average gradient of 7.6%, it is often a decisive site of the race.[1]

The climb is nicknamed The Italian Hill, because of the composition of its immigrant population and their descendants – often from Sicily and the South of Italy. Their presence is particularly expressed by the many Italian flags hanging outside the windows, especially during race day of Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

References edit

  1. ^ "Liege - Bastogne - Liege 2017". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 April 2017.