La Flèche Wallonne 2024 - Extended Highlights - Facing the wall
Discover the highlights of the Flèche Wallonne Hommes 2024 !
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More Information on:
https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/en/
https://www.facebook.com/FlecheWallonne
https://twitter.com/flechewallonne
https://www.instagram.com/classiquesardennes/
© Amaury Sport Organisation - www.aso.fr
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SportsTranscript
00:00 Welcome to the 88th edition of La Fleche Valente,
00:07 cycling's annual pilgrimage up the magnificent Mure de Huy.
00:12 Last year, Tadej Pogačar mastered the Mure,
00:23 but the Slovenian isn't here to defend his title
00:25 as he prepares for the Giro d'Italia.
00:28 We do have two former winners on the start line though,
00:31 in Dylan Terns and Mark Hirschi.
00:34 Our shape is quite similar.
00:39 I showed some good form already,
00:42 it gives me some confidence for the next races.
00:44 Matias Schjelmozer was second behind Pogačar last year
00:48 and would love to go one better,
00:50 while the 2020 runner-up at Benoit Cosnefoix
00:52 showed his form by winning Brabantse Peel last week.
00:57 I'm confident from last year.
00:59 I felt like last year's race was my real breakthrough.
01:02 Now today is not here,
01:05 I feel even better, so I hope I can take a step up.
01:08 Tom Pidcock won the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday,
01:12 but he says Fleche Valente is a very different beast.
01:15 I've never got it right here.
01:17 Last year I came in really far back.
01:20 I did recover from Amstel last year.
01:25 This year I'm in a different place.
01:28 It's a tricky one, it's tactical.
01:33 I think there's a few guys who can go really fast on top of that hill.
01:37 We'll see.
01:38 Some changes to the route this year,
01:40 as the 175 riders cover just under 200km
01:44 between Charleroi and Ruy.
01:46 The Cote de Cherave is no longer part of the finishing circuit
01:49 due to roadworks,
01:50 but the peloton will go up the Mur de Ruy no fewer than four times
01:54 as we celebrate the race's 40th finish on the iconic climb.
01:58 The weather could also be a big factor,
02:00 with heavy rain forecast in the afternoon.
02:03 It was bright enough during the first few hours of racing,
02:13 with the riders clipping along at over 42km/h.
02:17 Six men made the breakaway,
02:18 opening up a gap of around four and a half minutes.
02:21 Lillian Calmagian of Antimar Chehuanti
02:23 Alan Jusom of Total Energies,
02:25 James Whelan of Q36.5,
02:28 Igor Chazan of Astana Kazakhstan,
02:30 Ioan Mainz of Bingoal
02:32 and Shomin Joal Risti of Uskotel Asgardi.
02:35 Lidl Trek and Ineos Grenadiers were pacing the peloton
02:47 on behalf of Schelmose and Pidcock,
02:50 and the gap soon began to tumble,
02:52 especially when the heavens opened
02:54 with around 100km to go.
02:56 The leaders heading up the Mur de Ruy for the first time
03:01 with around three minutes in hand,
03:03 but these conditions were going to turn the race
03:06 into a real slog.
03:08 Soon, many of the pre-race favourites were really struggling.
03:12 Turns was the first of the big names to drop.
03:19 The Belgian wouldn't be repeating his exploit of two years ago.
03:22 Meanwhile, plenty of riders were no doubt getting excited
03:25 at what was turning into the most open Flesche Wallonne in years.
03:29 Well, nothing like a nice midweek ride in Belgium.
03:33 Mainz and Joal Risti were the last of the breakaway riders to be caught
03:37 and there was still a long way to go, over 60km.
03:40 On to the second climb of the Mur de Ruy,
03:44 with more favourites blowing up.
03:46 First it was Mathias Schelmose,
03:48 and then the 2020 winner, Marc Hirschi.
03:51 That's a surprise.
03:56 Hirschi now is being distanced on the Mur de Ruy.
03:59 Valentin Madouas leading the way over the summit.
04:04 There were still a lot of strong riders in this peloton
04:07 and soon one of them decided to try his luck solo.
04:10 Soren Kruijwandersen flying away with 60km to go,
04:13 with Marcus Holgaard chasing in vain.
04:17 It has been over 20 years since we had a solo winner at this race,
04:21 but the day looked like a man on a mission.
04:23 He led by over a minute,
04:26 as they made their way to the Mur for the third time.
04:29 Could Kruijwandersen hold on over the punishing final lap?
04:35 The alarm bell starting to ring back in the peloton
04:41 as riders decided to attack and try to hold on.
04:44 As riders decided to attack and try to hunt Kruijwandersen down,
04:47 Stevie Williams was the first man on his tail
04:50 and the Welshman would be joined by four others,
04:53 Maxime Van Hills, Kevin Vaucoulin, Santiago Buitrago and Richard Carapaz.
04:58 Unox then upping the temper from the peloton
05:01 and slowly but surely they began to reel the Dane back in.
05:04 The peloton first at catching this chase group
05:07 and then putting Kruijwandersen out of his misery on the Cote d'Arref.
05:13 Everybody back together again
05:15 before the decisive final hike at the Mur de Huy.
05:18 Here's that very difficult corner.
05:28 Decathlon Agi Duselle Mondial represented on the left-hand side.
05:33 This is where we've just passed through Virage-Claude Curriculion,
05:39 where the gradients are at 26%.
05:42 You can see how much you have to bide your time.
05:45 Carapaz is there just waiting to strike.
05:48 Riders starting to go backwards.
05:51 One of those from Groupama FDG.
05:54 Cosnefoix is there, Carapaz in the pink,
05:59 Scoins and still there's no attack.
06:02 Johannesen right-hand side.
06:04 Williams is getting set and Williams decides now is the time.
06:08 Williams accelerates away. What a show of power by Stephen Williams.
06:13 As he now goes for glory.
06:15 Has he gone at the right time? Has he gone a little bit too early?
06:19 Williams has played an absolute blinder today.
06:22 He's made every single move he has to.
06:25 Stephen Williams of Israel Premier Tech, only about 100 metres to go.
06:29 Being hunted down now by the peloton behind.
06:32 Gutrago is there. Williams checks one more time.
06:35 He's being chased and he's being chased hard.
06:38 Is Williams going to go all the way to the finish
06:41 and be the first British winner of the Flesche Wallonne?
06:44 He's almost there now. Here comes the attack behind.
06:48 Williams of Israel Premier Tech.
06:50 Can he get to the finish line or is he going to be caught?
06:54 Stephen Williams wins Flesche Wallonne,
06:57 the first British winner of the Flesche Wallonne.
07:00 It's already been a fantastic year for Stephen Williams
07:03 as he won the Tour Down Under in January.
07:06 And now he becomes the first ever British rider to win La Flesche Wallonne.
07:11 The Welshman joining his team-mate Terns and his DS,
07:14 Rick Verbrugge, on the honour roll.
07:17 And it was a superb final attack as he secured his eighth career success.
07:23 What a day. What a day. I'm so happy right now.
07:28 I can't believe I just won Flesche.
07:31 I've been watching this race for years
07:33 and I've always wanted to come here with decent legs to try and win it.
07:38 And today with the weather, I got to see the race.
07:42 I got to see the race and I got to see the race.
07:45 I'm so happy. I'm so happy.
07:48 I'm so happy I got to come here and win it.
07:52 Today with the weather, I do enjoy racing in this kind of weather.
07:57 To come away with a victory, it's just over the moon.
08:02 Williams taking it ahead of Vaucoulin, Van Gils, Cosnafoix and Bui-Trago.
08:07 Four of the riders who chased down Crow Anderson ended up in the top five.
08:12 27-year-old Williams conquering the first classic of his career
08:16 and taking the podium to win the race.
08:19 The race is set for Sunday.
08:21 Pagacia and Mathieu van der Poel will be back in town
08:24 for the fourth monument of the season, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
08:27 Join us then and thanks for watching.
08:31 (MUSIC)
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