Riders lining up for Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday could face a particularly difficult day if weather forecasts for the day prove correct.

Snow has been forecast by various weather websites for Liege on Sunday with temperatures dropping to just above freezing. The forecast on Weather.com shows a forecast of rain, sun and snow with a low of 1 degree Celsius.

If the weather is particularly bad on Sunday, then the UCI Extreme Weather Protocol could be referred to. The protocol was referred to for the first time last month, when the UCI and commissaires cancelled Stage 3 of Paris-Nice.

In the 1980 edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege race, the cyclists raced in really poor conditions. Snow fell from the start of the race with temperature near freezing point.

Members of the media called it the worst Ardennes weather in the history of the race. Apparently some riders signed on for the race that morning and didn’t bother starting such were the conditions.

After 70 kilometres of racing, just 64 out of 174 starters remained in the race. Only 21 riders went on to finish the race which was won by Bernard Hinault. Le Blaireau suffered frostbite in two fingers of his right hand and it took weeks for proper movement to return and Hinault says that his fingers still haven’t fully recovered.

Another rider who managed to make it to the finish – Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle told L’Équipe in 2010 that he can’t even remember finishing the race.

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