La Flèche Wallonne
Alejandro Valverde strengthens his position as world number one with his second Flèche title
1Critics of the Ardennes races will tell you that the finishes are all too similar. All four races finish with steep climbs and if you take into account that just 12 days separate the first, Brabantse Pijl, and the last, Liège-Bastogne- Liège, you often find it’s the same protaganists fighting it out in very similar scenarios. The nasty Mur de Huy, which is climbed three times at Flèche, looms large and with the finale taking place on it, the race almost always comes down to a slow motion sprint finish.
2In keeping with his fortunes over the last couple of seasons, Andy Schleck ( Trek Factory Racing) had an Ardennes campaign to forget. Crashes both here and at Amstel left him as a high profile DNF. He’d complete that unwanted set in Liège.
3Since 2011, Gilbert has had little cause for cheer in BMC colours but by Flèche he was on song. Back-to-back wins made him a big favourite here but after being caught up in a crash at the foot of the Mur, he was left with too much to do to challenge for the win.
4As predicted, the race came down to a shootout on the Mur. As Dan Martin has shown with his improving results in Flèche over the years, a rider’s chances comes down to experience of the Mur. It’s about finding the right position and timing that big, final effort.
5Despite being caught up in the same crash as Gilbert, Martin suggested he had timed his effort to perfection. He wasn’t counting on the strength of Alejandro Valverde, however, who burst into life with just 200m to go to take a clear victory. Read Martin’s account on page 46.
6Though he had to settle for second, it was a huge confidence booster for Martin. Not only did it come ahead of the race he cherishes the most, Liège, but after stinging criticism by his boss Jonathan Vaughters after his efforts at Amstel.