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La Flèche Wallone (WT) / Wednesday 18-04-2012

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Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
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La Flèche Wallone (WT) / Wednesday 18-04-2012

CARTE.gif

PROFIL.gif


New course

The 2 climbs between the penultimate passage of the Mur de Huy, and the finish, are new. They are significantly harder or steeper than the old climbs. And could cause a much greater selection before the final Mur than usual.


  • Km 70.5 - Mur de Huy (1er passage) - km de montée à %
  • Km 110.0 - Côte de Peu d'Eau - km de montée à %
  • Km 115.5 - Côte de Haut-Bois - km de montée à %
  • Km 141.0 - Côte de Groynne - km de montée à %
  • Km 147.0 - Côte de Bohisseau - km de montée à %
  • Km 150.0 - Côte de Bousalle - km de montée à %
  • Km 163.0 - Mur de Huy (2ème passage) - km de montée à %
  • Km 179.5 - Côte d'Amay - km de montée à %
  • Km 185.5 - Côte de Villers-le-Bouillet - km de montée à %
  • Km 194.0 - HUY (Mur de Huy) - km de montée à %
(info is still incomplete). Amay and Villers-le Bouillet are the new, harder, climbs.
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
29,370
3,399
28,180
2011 - Unstoppable Gilbert

Already impressive last Sunday when he captured his second victory on the Amstel Gold Race, Philippe Gilbert (OLO) proved he was really the man of the moment. On home soil, the Belgian made the best of the final climb up the Mur de Huy to claim his first ever Fleche Wallonne. Gilbert wins this 75th edition ahead of Rodriguez (KAT) and Sanchez (EUS).
First attack pays off
Immediately from the start, Maciej Paterski (LIQ) managed to take off, joined a few kilometres later by three other escapees: Maxime Vantomme (KAT), Matti Helminen (LAN) and Preben Van Hecke (TSV). After 43kms, the leading four could enjoy a maximum 17’10 advantage over a pack not that concerned by the breakaway.
At the top of the first climb up the Mur de Huy (km 70), the front men, led out by Van Hecke, could still enjoy a 15’30 advantage over a pack where the Schleck brothers and Alberto Contador looked rather comfortable in the front positions.


Bad day for Ireland


A few kilometres later, a crash occurred in the pack, washing away Irish hopes as Nicolas Roche (ALM) and Daniel Martin (GRM) hit the ground and were forced to quit the race. While Preben Van Hecke carried on clinching the most climbers’ points at the top of all the hills, the chasing pack led by teams Saxo Bank, Leopard-Trek and Sky continued moving closer. The gap was to go from 7’ at the top of the Côte de Groynne to 5’40 at the top of the Côte de Bohisseau.


GAL01_FWH11_007.jpg


With just under 40 kilometres to go, Frenchman Blel Kadri was the first to give it a go, taking off on a counter-attack. But his effort was finally pointless as he was rapidly caught by the pack.


The pace continued increasing as the riders moved closer to the second climb up the Mur de Huy. Van Hecke again made it first at the top of the Mur, earning enough points to win the best climbers jersey. With 15kms to go and after Helminen was dropped, the front three were caught by Kolobnev (KAT), Gasparotto (AST), Verdugo (EUS), Van Garderen (THR), Kyrienka (MOV), Golas (VCD) and Lovkvist (SKY).
Kyrienka and Lovkvist again managed to break away while their former companions were caught by a pack led by the Omega Pharma team of Philippe Gilbert. But the front men’s advantage never reached over 20” and they were caught with 8 kilometres to go. It was then Pineau (QST) and Marcato’s (VCD) turn to give it a go. With five kilometres to go, the leading duet could enjoy a 20” advantage.


Outstanding Gilbert


They managed to hang on to their lead in the first metres of the final climb up the Mur de Huy but were caught with just under one kilometre to go. The big battle between favourites could really start. With 300m to go, fairly far from the finish line on such a demanding climb, Philippe Gilbert (OLO) flew off, never to be caught. The Belgian, already a winner of the Amstel Gold Race last Sunday conquers his first victory on the Fleche Wallonne, beating Joaquin Rodriguez (KAT) and Samuel Sanchez (EUS) to the line. Gilbert even becomes the first rider to win the Amstel-Fleche Brabançonne-Fleche Wallonne treble. His next goal: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his home race.


GAL01_FWH11_013_2.jpg



1. GILBERT Philippe 121 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 4h 54' 57"
2. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim 11 KATUSHA TEAM 4h 55' 00" + 00' 03"
3. SANCHEZ Samuel 141 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 55' 02" + 00' 05"
4. VINOKOUROV Alexandre 171 PRO TEAM ASTANA 4h 55' 03" + 00' 06"
5. ANTON Igor 142 EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 4h 55' 03" + 00' 06"
6. VANENDERT Jelle 127 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 4h 55' 03" + 00' 06"
7. SCHLECK Frank 76 TEAM LEOPARD-TREK 4h 55' 03" + 00' 06"
8. MORENO FERNANDEZ Daniel 15 KATUSHA TEAM 4h 55' 06" + 00' 09"
9. LE MEVEL Christophe 63 TEAM GARMIN - CERVELO 4h 55' 09" + 00' 12"
10. MARTENS Paul 53 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 4h 55' 09" + 00' 12"
11. CONTADOR Alberto 21 SAXO BANK SUNGARD 4h 55' 12" + 00' 15"
12. ALBASINI Michael 42 HTC - HIGHROAD 4h 55' 14" + 00' 17"
13. HESJEDAL Ryder 61 TEAM GARMIN - CERVELO 4h 55' 15" + 00' 18"
14. GESINK Robert 51 RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM 4h 55' 17" + 00' 20"
15. DE WAELE Bert 211 LANDBOUWKREDIET 4h 55' 17" + 00' 20"
16. VAN AVERMAET Greg 1 BMC RACING TEAM 4h 55' 17" + 00' 20"
17. VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen 126 OMEGA PHARMA - LOTTO 4h 55' 20" + 00' 23"
18. HERMANS Ben 34 TEAM RADIOSHACK 4h 55' 23" + 00' 26"
19. URAN Rigoberto 117 SKY PROCYCLING 4h 55' 25" + 00' 28"
20. INTXAUSTI Benat 94 MOVISTAR TEAM 4h 55' 25" + 00' 28"
 
Dekker_Tifosi

Dekker_Tifosi

Mar 13, 2009
29,370
3,399
28,180
Favorites 2012

After the disappointing Amstel Gold Race of some top riders like Rodriguez, Valverde, Gerrans and Schleck it's hard to decide the favorites for this race.
Gilbert looked on the way up in the Gold Race. But I think the Fleche Wallone is the race least suited to him, and only in exceptional form like in 2011 he can win such races. But he can't be written off either, as proven last sunday.
One would expect great things from Rodriguez after his good Pais Vasco, but he was not exactly good in the Gold Race. Nevertheless, this race probably suits him most of the Ardennes classics, but can he finally win?
Then there is Jelle Vanendert, already very strong in the Amstel Gold Race and last year alreadt very good here. As neo-pro he also was already 13th so this race suits him like a glove. For me he is the best bet after Rodriguez.
Then there's Valverde, who also won this race one, but failed to convince so far in the classics. Can he prove he still got it? Other contenders include the Schlecks, Dani Moreno, Nordhaug, Uran, Henao, Mollema, Poels, Julien Simon, Gasparotto, Dan Martin, Wegmann, Hesjedal, Vandenbroeck and Duarte and many others who could suprise. But none of them I see winning.
 
hoerpi

hoerpi

Jan 8, 2012
377
0
0
Panda Claws said:
Rodriguez, S. Sanchez or Vanendert.


Valverde and Gilbert as outsiders.
Click to expand...

No Samu in this race.

Hope Ludvigsson won't DNF but he probably will...

1. Purito
2. Anton
3. Gilbert
 
Panda Claws

Panda Claws

Aug 29, 2011
3,622
1,966
16,680
Dekker_Tifosi said:
Favorites 2012

After the disappointing Amstel Gold Race of some top riders like Rodriguez, Valverde, Gerrans and Schleck it's hard to decide the favorites for this race.
Gilbert looked on the way up in the Gold Race. But I think the Fleche Wallone is the race least suited to him, and only in exceptional form like in 2011 he can win such races. But he can't be written off either, as proven last sunday.
One would expect great things from Rodriguez after his good Pais Vasco, but he was not exactly good in the Gold Race. Nevertheless, this race probably suits him most of the Ardennes classics, but can he finally win?
Then there is Jelle Vanendert, already very strong in the Amstel Gold Race and last year alreadt very good here. As neo-pro he also was already 13th so this race suits him like a glove. For me he is the best bet after Rodriguez.
Then there's Valverde, who also won this race one, but failed to convince so far in the classics. Can he prove he still got it? Other contenders include the Schlecks, Dani Moreno, Nordhaug, Uran, Henao, Mollema, Poels, Julien Simon, Gasparotto, Dan Martin, Wegmann, Hesjedal, Vandenbroeck and Duarte and many others who could suprise. But none of them I see winning.
Click to expand...

Nicely written and I can only agree.
 
1

18-Valve. (pithy)

May 4, 2011
4,282
780
17,680
Dekker_Tifosi said:
Favorites 2012

After the disappointing Amstel Gold Race of some top riders like Rodriguez, Valverde, Gerrans and Schleck it's hard to decide the favorites for this race.
Gilbert looked on the way up in the Gold Race. But I think the Fleche Wallone is the race least suited to him, and only in exceptional form like in 2011 he can win such races. But he can't be written off either, as proven last sunday.
One would expect great things from Rodriguez after his good Pais Vasco, but he was not exactly good in the Gold Race. Nevertheless, this race probably suits him most of the Ardennes classics, but can he finally win?
Then there is Jelle Vanendert, already very strong in the Amstel Gold Race and last year alreadt very good here. As neo-pro he also was already 13th so this race suits him like a glove. For me he is the best bet after Rodriguez.
Then there's Valverde, who also won this race one, but failed to convince so far in the classics. Can he prove he still got it? Other contenders include the Schlecks, Dani Moreno, Nordhaug, Uran, Henao, Mollema, Poels, Julien Simon, Gasparotto, Dan Martin, Wegmann, Hesjedal, Vandenbroeck and Duarte and many others who could suprise. But none of them I see winning.
Click to expand...
Why did you leave out Anton? All those names, but no Igor freaking Anton??? WTF. :confused:
 
M

maltiv

Oct 23, 2009
5,772
0
17,480
Rodriguez for the win. He didn't look very convincing in Amstel, but F-W suits him perfectly.

Gilbert won't be a factor I think, this is the ardennes classic that suits him the least and he must be at his best to have a chance here.
 
Christian

Christian

Mar 13, 2009
5,245
2
0
This is my favourite race of the Ardennes trio. Even more interesting this year because there is no standout favourite.

Would be cool to see a battle between Vanendert and Gilbert :cool:

John Gadret should try this some time
 
Afrank

Afrank

Aug 16, 2011
10,819
2
0
I would say Purito for the win, but his performance at Amstel wasn't very convincing, Vanendert I think will do well also, but I think a surprise winner will sneak through for the win like we saw at amstel.
 
will10

will10

Dec 27, 2010
6,674
1
0
Group of 50 together at the bottom of the Mur, harder run in but not enough to change the outcome.

1 Vanendert
2 Moreno
3 Uran
 
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