2025 Flèche Wallonne Preview: On Wednesday we get a mid-week climber’s Basic bonus with the Flèche Wallonne and its murderous last climb of the Mur de Huy. One other day of pleasure for us followers because the Amstel Gold Race winner, Mattias Skjelmose traces up with double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and World champion Tadej Pogačar. We have a look at final 12 months’s race, the course and who will win.
The 2024 Flèche Wallonne
Stephen Williams surprisingly received the 2024 Flèche Wallonne. After a chilly and moist race of 200 kilometres, the British rider jumped away with 300 metres to go and nobody had the legs to catch him earlier than the road. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Accommodations) completed second, aheadMaxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) in third. The route of the Flèche Wallonne had modified this 12 months. The Wall of Huy (1.3km at 9.6%) needed to be climbed 4 instances, as an alternative of the three of earlier years. The Côte de Cherave (1.3km at 8.1%) wasn’t in last circuit and the end was after 198 kilometres, on the standard summit of the Mur de Huy.
Chilly and moist in Belgium
The beginning in Charleroi was held beneath a sunny blue sky, however that wasn’t to final. Six riders made up the break of the day: Lilian Calmejane (Intermaché-Wanty), Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), James Whelan (Q36.5), Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Johan Meens (Bingoal WB) and Igor Chzhan (Astana Qazaqstan). They managed to take a lead of 4 minutes on the peloton, the place INEOS Grenadiers and Lidl-Trek have been working for Tom Pidcock and Mattias Skjelmose. The climate situations then modified. The temperature was nonetheless round 10º C, however there was heavy rain and the sturdy wind made the race an actual battle towards the weather. At one level there was hail, which might have turned to snow. The chilly was an excessive amount of for a lot of riders and the break virtually stopped because the peloton continued to lose riders. Earlier than the ultimate received going, high riders Pello Bilbao and Dylan Teuns had already deserted. Groupama-FDJ and EF Training-EasyPost took on the work within the peloton. This brought about extra riders to be dropped on the second climb of the Mur of Huy. Skjelmose, Marc Hirschi and Tom Pidcock have been the most important victims. The peloton made up of round 50 riders coming into the ultimate 60 kilometres. Søren Kragh Andersen noticed his likelihood and attacked, adopted by Markus Hoelgaard. Hoelgaard couldn’t get far sufficient away and was caught on the Côte d’Ereffe.
A robust assault for Stephen Williams
The remaining favourites determined to make their transfer. Maxim Van Gils and Ben Healy put the stress on, however they didn’t get a lot nearer to Kragh Andersen. The Dane of Alpecin-Deceuninck began the penultimate climb of the Mur de Huy with a lead of 1:30. Behind him the peloton cut up, with Stephen Williams because the strongest climber. Santiago Buitrago, Richard Carapaz, Van Gils and Clément Champoussin have been additionally on this high group of climbers. However they have been nonetheless at round a minute down on the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider. Williams held himself again from a full assault and dropped to the Van Gils group, the remainder of the favourites weren’t far behind. Each teams have been working effectively collectively, which introduced down the lead. Uno-X Mobility was additionally working arduous and first pulled within the group with Williams and Van Gils after which additionally Kragh Andersen, 15 kilometres from the end, on the Côte d’Ereffe. Visma | Lease a Bike was additionally working for his or her man, Tiesj Benoot. There was an assault from an Uno-X rider (Tobias Halland Johannessen?), however he was closed down by Tim van Dijke. The peloton then headed in direction of the final climb of the Mur de Huy (1.3km at 9.6%). Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale led the race on to the wall of a climb, however there was solely round 20 riders left with an opportunity of victory. Toms Skujins and Benoît Cosnefroy have been on the entrance because the group began the combat up the steep climb. Nobody had an acceleration left of their legs, however then Stephen Williams pushed his approach to the entrance and jumped away with 300 metres to go. The British rider had made sufficient of a spot, that nobody might catch him earlier than the end line. A robust Kévin Vauquelin was the following strongest and did get nearer to Williams, but it surely was too late. The Frenchman completed in second place, simply forward of Maxim Van Gils in third.
Williams held them off to the road
2024 Flèche-Wallonne End result:
1. Stephen Williams (GB) Israel-Premier Tech in 4:40:24
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Accommodations
3. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:03
4. Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
5. Santiago Buitrago (Col) Bahrain-Victorious
6. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:10
7. Romain Grégoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
9. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis.
The rostrum may look totally different this 12 months
The 2025 Route:
Race organisers, ASO, have redesigned the course of the Flèche Wallonne for 2025. The end continues to be on the well-known Mur de Huy for the fortieth time. Solely the method to it’s totally different. On the ultimate circuit, the Côte de Cherave returns between the Côte d’Ereffe and the ultimate climb to the Mur de Huy, so the finale is similar as in 2023. Final 12 months, ASO eliminated the Cherave from the ultimate lap, however included a fourth climb of the Mur de Huy. This 12 months returns to the older route. There are eleven climbs, together with the trio of Ereffe-Cherave-Muur van Huy.
2025 Flèche Wallonne map
The beginning has been modified. The boys is not going to begin from Charleroi, however in Ciney, close to Namur. After simply ten kilometres, they hit the primary climb of the day, the Côte de Ver (1.4km at 4.6%). Subsequent there are some uncategorised climbs and the Côte de Petite Somme (1.2km at 8.8%). Shortly afterwards, after 100 kilometres of racing, they begin the ending circuit, which must be ridden 3 times.
2025 Flèche Wallonne profile
This 12 months, along with the Côte d’Ereffe (2.1km at 5%), the circuit can even embrace the Côte de Cherave (1.3km at 7.6%). The highest of this climb is simply six kilometres from the end, however prior to now, nobody might get away right here and keep away to the highest of the Mur de Huy (1.3km at 9.7%). The broad lanes in direction of Huy are usually not good for attackers. If anybody reaches the beginning of the Mur de Huy with a lead, they nonetheless have a tricky job forward of them. Particularly between 800 and 200 meters from the end, the climb could be very steep. The odds are not often beneath 15% and on the within of the bends it’s nearer 20%. Timing is essential, as a result of within the final 200 meters the highway flattens out and riders can come again.
5 wins for Alejandro Valverde on the Huy
The Favourites:
It’s unlikely that final 12 months’s winner, Stephen Williams will repeat his victory, he’s down to begin, however the British rider has not executed a lot this season. Plus the start-list this 12 months is at the next stage. Tadej Pogačar, the favorite in each race he begins in, will probably be on Wallonia on Wednesday. The Slovenian has began 5 WorldTour one-day races this spring; received twice and been on the rostrum in each race. He after all will probably be firstly as the highest favorite. In his first 4 participations, Pogačar’s finest place was ninth. However in 2023 he returned to take the win. A couple of days earlier than that victory, Pogačar had additionally received the Amstel Gold Race. He didn’t win final Sunday, however he was solo for a very long time. When he was caught, he nonetheless battled for second place, dropping by a really small margin to Skjelmose. Th eWorld champion was nonetheless sturdy, however his busy spring may simply be beginning to take its toll. In the intervening time Pogačar is on the beginning checklist, however he may miss Wednesday’s Basic to recuperate for Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Though he may need revenge for final Sunday.
Is Pogačar drained?
Mattias Skjelmose and Remco Evenepoel caught Pogačar within the finale of the Amstel Gold Race. Evenepoel seemed very sturdy after getting back from his harm earlier within the 12 months and he appears to be again at his previous type. On his comeback, he received the Brabantse Pijl and two days later he got here third in Amstel. The explosive last on the climb of the Huy might be not one of the best for Evenepoel, when he rode as soon as earlier than, he completed forty second, however this 12 months the double Olympic champion will give it his all on the Mur de Huy. Alternatively he might go for a protracted assault, however the Slovenian might need the identical concept.
The ‘previous’ Remco is again
It was Mattias Skjelmose who received the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday. A shock, however he isn’t unknown. The 24-year-old Dane has been one of many higher hilly Basic riders for some time. Till his victory within the Amstel, his finest end in one of many high Classics was a second place in Flèche Wallonne. In 2023, Skjelmose was crushed by Pogačar on the Mur de Huy, so the steep climb fits him. Final 12 months he needed to be taken out of the race with hypothermia.
Skjelmose dealt with each Pogačar and Evenepoel final Sunday
Lidl-Trek additionally has Thibau Nys on the start-line on Wednesday. The 22-year-old Belgian says he ready effectively for the hilly Classics and he received the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain. Nys was additionally energetic on Sunday within the last of the Amstel Gold Race and completed in twelfth place. His large objective is the Flèche Wallonne. Nys seems to be to be made for a brief, steep climb just like the one on the Mur de Huy, his explosive cyclocross background ought to come into play.
Thibau Nys has a great likelihood
Tom Pidcock is in the identical boat. The British rider began his first season for Q36.5 effectively, however since his final coaching block he hasn’t seemed to be at 100%. Within the Brabantse Pijl and the Amstel Gold Race he was pretty invisible, however you possibly can’t write off Pidcock, as he might bounce again with a outcome. His finest end within the Flèche was sixth at his first try in 2021.
Which Pidcock will we see?
Romain Grégoire additionally completed within the high ten of the Flèche Wallonne on his debut. The Frenchman of Groupama-FDJ was seventh final 12 months and was additionally seventh final Sunday within the Amstel Gold Race, so he’s in good condition, as is his teammate Guillaume Martin. The 31-year-old has had success already this season; final weekend he was sixth within the Tour du Doubs, victories within the Basic Grand Besançon Doubs and the Tour du Jura. Final 12 months he was tenth in Flèche Wallonne. The win might be past him, however he must be up there on the end.
Romain Grégoire – One of the best Frenchman?
There are different Frenchmen: Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor), Louis Barré (Intermarché-Wanty) and Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Accommodations). Alaphilippe attacked on the Gulperberg within the Amstel Gold, but it surely got here to nothing when Pogačar left him behind, at the least we noticed a flash of his previous type and elegance. He’s additionally a three-time winner of Flèche Wallonne. Barré isn’t in the identical league, but, however he was sixth in Amstel final Sunday. We all know that Vauquelin can carry out on the Huy, final 12 months he completed second, however he crashed within the Amstel Gold Race and should not begin on Wednesday.
Will we see the previous Julian Alaphilippe?
Maxim Van Gils additionally crashed in Amstel and abandon. One other disappointment for the Belgian, who had missed a part of the spring attributable to sickness. If the Belgian begins Flèche Wallonne, he might make a distinction. He completed third on the Mur de Huy final 12 months.
Will Maxim Van Gils be match to begin?
Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) has not raced for a month, so his type is questionable. However beforehand he rode effectively in Milan-Turin with a 3rd place. He can deal with the Mur de Huy, he was sixth within the 2024 Flèche Wallonne.
Tobias Halland Johannessen can deal with the Mur
Additionally value mentioning is: Ben Healy (EF Training-EasyPost), Alex Aranburu (Cofidis), Lennert Van Eetvelt (Lotto), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious), Victor Lafay (Decathlon AG2R), Mauro Schmid (Jayco AlUla) Oscar Onley (Picnic PostNL), Enric Mas (Movistar), Tiesj Benoot & Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike) and former winners; Marc Hirschi (Tudor) and Dylan Teuns (Cofidis).
Tadej Pogačar continues to be the highest favorite, however he must combat for it
Who Will Win?
Very Possible: Tadej Pogačar
Possible: Remco Evenepoel and Thibau Nys
Attainable. Mattias Skjelmose, Tom Pidcock and Romain Grégoire
Perhaps: Maxim Van Gils, Dylan Teuns, Julian Alaphilippe and Tobias Halland Johannessen.
* Begin checklist may change earlier than Wednesday.
# Keep PEZ for the race report on Wednesday and all of the Flèche Wallonne information in EUROTRASH Thursday. #
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