Flèche Wallonne
10 May, 1952
In just the 16th edition of the race, the riders wrestle their way up a cobbled climb in the countryside on the way to Liège. Second from right is Ferdinand Kübler, the Swiss rider who would go on to win the race. No other Swiss rider would win again until Marc Hirschi claimed victory last year.
In that time the race has changed fairly dramatically. Today, both men’s and women’s editions are races mostly about conserving energy and then testing your rivals up the final ascent of the punishingly steep Mur de Huy.
The 1952 edition started in the town of Charleroi and ran from west to east to Liège, the opposite direction of travel from today. Then it was won in a sprint for the line, albeit from a small group.
The previous year Kübler had become the first rider to win Flèche and Liègebastogne-liège, which that year had been scheduled over two days as Le Weekend Ardennais. He repeated that feat in 1952.
Alejandro Valverde is the only person to have accomplished that double – now arguably easier as the two races are separated by several days – more times than the Swiss, doing so in 2006, 2015 and 2017.