Cycling: The Flèche Wallonne is the race with probably the steepest home straight: With up to 20 percent, the "Mur de Huy" leads up to the finish line. On Wednesday, April 22, a winner will be chosen here for the 79th time.
Although a little overshadowed by the monuments Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Walloon Arrow clearly belongs in the category of the great spring classics. Over almost 200 kilometers of race length, the drivers collect a lot of altitude meters in the constant ups and downs of the Belgian Ardennes even before the final climb. At the 1,4 km long "Wall of Huy" the wheat is separated from the chaff every year with a gradient of up to 20 percent. Solo escapes have not been crowned with success recently, almost always a closed group of riders drives into the final climb and the punchers who are strong in the mountains decide the victory among themselves.
The favorites include last year's winner Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Philippe Gilbert (BMC, winner 2011) and Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha, winner 2012), but also last year's runner-up Daniel Martin (Cannondale-Garmin), world champion and this year's Amstel Gold winner Michal Kwiatkowski (Etixx-Quick Step) or Liège winner Simon Gerrans (Orica-Green Edge) should be at the start with great ambitions. An interesting aspect this year: The 3rd stage of the Tour de France also ends this year at the "Wall of Huy". Those who miss out on the spring classic will have a second chance in July.
The Flèche Wallonne is attractive for spectators in several respects: in addition to the men's professional race, the world's best women also determine a winner at the same place and on the same day. In addition, around the destination of Huy, a final lap is driven several times, so you can see the peloton several times. The most promising places are undoubtedly at the executioner of the race - the "Mur". Those who don't make it to Huy can look forward to a broadcast on Eurosport.
The UCI WorldTeams at Fleche Wallone 2015:
AG2R La Mondiale (Fra)
Astana Pro Team (Kaz)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Etixx – Quick Step (Bel)
FDJ (Woman)
IAM Cycling (Sui)
Lampre – Merida (Ita)
Lotto Soudal (Bel)
Movistar Team (Span)
Orica GreenEDGE (Off)
Team Cannondale – Garmin (US)
Team Giant – Alpecin (Ger)
Team Katusha (Russia)
Team Lotto NL – Jumbo (Ned)
Team Sky (Gbr)
Tinkoff – Saxo (Russia)
Trek Factory Racing (USA)
Wildcards were given to:
Brittany – Séché Environnement (Fra)
Cofidis, Solutions Credits (Fr)
MTN – Qhubeka (Rsa)
United Health Care Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Team Europcar (Woman)
Team Roompot (Ned)
Top sport Vlaanderen Baloise (Bel)
Wanty – Groupe Gobert (Bel)
The winners of the past ten years:
2014 Alejandro Valverde
2013 Daniel Moreno
2012 Joaquim Rodriguez
2011 Philippe Gilbert
2010 Cadel Evans
2009 Davide Rebel
2008 Kim Churches
2007 Davide Rebel
2006 Alejandro Valverde
2005 Danilo di Luca
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