The Mur de Huy is 0.8 miles (1.3 km) at an average of 9.3%, with 397 ft (121 m) of climbing to the 669 ft (204 m) top, according to Wikipedia. It’s short, but it’s one of the most famous walls in cycling: the finish of the Flèche Wallonne.
What the climb is like
You climb from the center of Huy, on the banks of the Meuse, up a street known as the chapel road (chemin des Chapelles), after the seven chapels along the way. There isn’t a single easy yard: the average is above 9%, the middle section is around 17% through several tight bends and, on the inside of one of them, the grade reaches 26%.
The key for a recreational rider is not to start hard: with a 9% average and ramps above 17%, whatever you spend in the first few yards you’ll pay for in the bends. Take them on the outside, where the grade is lower, as long as nothing is coming. And if you run out of gears, there’s no shame in walking a stretch.
A note on the numbers
Wikipedia gives 0.8 miles (1.3 km) and 397 ft (121 m), or 9.3%. Climbfinder starts a little earlier and measures 0.9 miles (1.4 km) and 446 ft (136 m), or 9.7%, with the top at 676 ft (206 m). Both sources agree on the essentials: it’s a wall of just over half a mile above 9%. The maximum grade depends on how it’s measured: 26% is the tightest bend; over 100 m segments, the maximum is 16-17%.
History
The Mur has been the finish of the Flèche Wallonne since 1984 and of the Flèche Wallonne Femmes since 1998. The riders climb it three times, and the race is often decided on its ramps. It was also the finish of stage 3 of the 2015 Tour de France.
When to go, water and traffic
You can ride it year-round. It’s a residential street with some local traffic; in April, on race days, it’s closed. Huy has every service you need. In the rain, the pavement in the bends gets slippery: take care. If you want more, the Ardennes have dozens of short climbs around Liège.
What gearing to use
For a wall like this you want a big cog: a 34x30 or 34x32. At 3 W/kg (watts per kilo of body weight) and 159 lb (72 kg), you’ll ride about 3.4 mph (5.5 km/h) on 17%, around 40 rpm with a 34x32. Run your numbers in the gear calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to climb the Mur de Huy?
A 159 lb (72 kg) rider on a 21 lb (9.5 kg) bike takes about 8 min at 3 W/kg (216 W), 9 min 45 s at 2.5 W/kg and 6 min 15 s at 4 W/kg. On the 17-26% ramps you'll be much slower than average, so allow a bit more.
What is the steepest grade on the Mur de Huy?
Wikipedia mentions stretches of around 17% and 26% on the inside of one bend. Climbfinder, which measures in 100 m segments, gives a maximum of 16.4%.
Since when has the Flèche Wallonne finished in Huy?
Since 1984 for the men's race, and since 1998 for the women's. The men climb it three times and the women twice, with the finish at the top on the last ascent.