Juan Ayuso, Pello Bilbao and Oier Lazkano will be the assets of the Spaniards in the 88th edition of the Walloon Flecha which will take place this Wednesday between Charleroi and the Wall of Huy, with a route of 198.6 kilometers, where Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, winner in 2023, will be absentdestined for Liège-Bastogne on Sunday.
This is a classic in which the Spanish riders left their mark with 8 victories: 5 of Valverde and 3 more shared in between “Purito” Rodríguez, Dani Moreno and Igor Astarloa. This time, with Huy’s ramp as the final judge, Juan Ayuso, Pello Bilbao and Oier Lazkano arrived with hopes of retracing their path to glory.
The company will not be easy, despite the absences of Pogacar, Van der Poel, Roglic and Evenepoel. This year the route has changed and the Wall of Huy has to be climbed four timesso the winner has to be the climber with the finishing power on the 9.6 percent ramp that ends at the Camino de las Capillas.
As the winner of the recent Amstel Gold Race, the British Tom Pidcock appears as one of the favorites, ahead of an Ineos that will also have Kwiatkowski, while the UAE warns with a strong team that includes the debutant and winner of Itzulia Juan Ayuso, Joao Almeida, Marc Hisrchi, the Swiss who won in 2020, and the American McNulty.
A duel between Ineos and UAE is assumed, but in the final ramp anything can happen. Men like Pello Bilbao, ninth in the Amstel, will certainly play their tricks, joined in Bahrain by the Colombian Santiago BuitragoBelgian Tiesj Benoot (Visma) and Dylan Theuns (Israel), winner in 2022 in Huy and French Cosnefroy (Decathlon).
Movistar presents its classics four days from Liège-Bastogne. García Cortina and Oier Lazkano They will test their strength in front of “Dean” in a team they have completed Alex Aranburu, Carlos Canal, Jorge Arcas, Iván Romeo and Davide Formolo.
The Spanish platoon will also have a stage Euskaltel Euskadiwhich will feature Xabier Berasategi, Víctor de la Parte, James Fouché, Xabier Isasa, Txomin Juaristi, Gotzon Martín and Iker Mintegi.
In the range of Cofidis They rely on the experience of brothers Ion and Gorka Izagirre and the finishing strength of Jesús Herrada.
Four climbs to the Wall of Huy
The Walloon Arrow It can almost be considered a circuit race, as it includes four passes to the summit of Huy, the finale of the “Chemin des Chapelles”, an ascent of 1,300 meters at 9.6% of medium gradient and 20 sections, the last of them a few pedal strokes from the finish line, turning into an original sprint in style.
This year the Cota de Cherave will not be climbed, so there will be only one climb apart from Huy, that of Ereffe, with another 4 steps in the 2,100 meter section at 5%. At Arrow, they will decide the last 50 meters, on a ramp and in great difficulty.
Final winners
2023. Tadej Pogacar (SLO)
2022. Dylan Teuns (BEL)
2021. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
2020. Marc Hirschi (SUI)
2019. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA)
2018. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA).
In the women’s category, the champion of the Netherlands, Demi Vollering (SD Worx), will defend the title in the 27th edition of the Flèche Wallonne, a test that also takes place on Sunday on a 146-kilometer route with a start and finish in Huy.
Volleringin the absence of Kopecky and Wiebeswill wear the stripes of the Dutch team, and will have his main rivals in the Italians Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl), winner of the Tour of Flanders and Marta Cavalli (FDJ), who won Huy 2 years ago, without forgetting the Polish Canyon Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
Movistar will fight for the dream of the podium with a team that is building Paula Patiño, Sara Martín, Olivia Baril, Mareille Meijering, Claire Steels and Jelena Eric. In addition, Spanish cycling will be represented by Labor Kutxawhich includes Ane Santesteban, Idoia Eraso and Usoa Ostolaza in the sextet. Within Jayco will be Mavi Garciafive-time champion of Spain.
Count In the women’s race the Cota de Cherave will not be climbedthe final circuit will have two passes on the Cota d’Ereffe (2,100 meters at 5%) and two climbs on the mythical Wall of Huy (1,300 meters at 9.6%, with a maximum of around 20%), a litmus test for climbers. .
Latest winners:
2023. Demi Vollering (PSB)
2022. Marta Cavalli (ITA)
2021. Anna Van der Breggen (PSB).
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
