The Wallonia GP is considered one of the more demanding preparatory races for the upcoming world championship of the road elite in Tuscany. This is hardly surprising given the profile of the race, which runs 203 kilometers from Chaudfontaine to Namur. Countless short climbs stand in the way of the drivers, especially in the final.
Even before the race it was clear that in the end the rouleurs would be looking for their chances. That's how it happened. For a long time, a leading group dominated the race. The last hour of this year's edition then belonged to a trio. Initiated by the attack of the Belgian Tour stage winner Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Leopard), the Frenchman Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) and the Swiss Matthias Frank (BMC) also broke away from the field. They were not allowed a lead of more than 30 seconds. Nevertheless, this distance should be enough.
Finally, Voeckler used the steep ascent to Namur to tactically detach himself from Frank. However, he could not outperform Bakelants. Although the French crowd's favorite went into the lead on the narrow, winding home straight, the Belgian risked more on the wet asphalt. In the end, Bakelants, who reacted skilfully to Voeckler's attacks, won with a bike-length lead over the Frenchman. Frank followed in third place, just ahead of Florian Vachon (Bretagne-Seche Environnement), who was able to break away from the oncoming field on the last kilometer.
//Result
1. Jan Bakelants (RadioShack Leopard/ Belgium National Team) 4:54:47
2. Thomas Voeckler (Europcar) 0:00:00
3. Mathias Frank (BMC) 0:00:08
4. Florian Vachon (Brittany-Seche Environnement) 0:00:14
5. Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma Quick Step) 0:00:18