La Flèche Wallonne 2022, one day race, April 20

[Landeirovic]

Pogacar will win easy after a fantastic lead out. First Soler than Ulissi than Ayuso as last Hirschi and Pogacar will win solo!

 

[ppanther92]

Warren Barguil

Will finish in the top 10.

 

[solo80k]

Pogi

 

[ppanther92]

I think Pogacar will make it a very fast ascent but still think he will be outkicked by Ala in the end.

 

[hayneplane]

So this race was never decided in a puncheur sprint before 2004, after which it was never decided by a breakaway?

That seems bizarre but makes sense given the names of the winners.

Guessing there must have been a significant change in the course as most of the breakaway winners were elite names as well.

 

[armchairclimber]

I love this race, me. Hard to see past a Pog v Ala sprint finish but I kind of hope someone at least tries an enterprising long range attack. Come on Victor Lafay

Sporting bets on Pidcock, Higuita, Ayuso.

Long shot Paret Peintre each way.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Pogacar will win easy after a fantastic lead out. First Soler than Ulissi than Ayuso as last Hirschi and Pogacar will win solo!

If Pogacar is anywhere close to his recent form UAE will set a brutal tempo from the bottom of the climb and he will perform a deadly attack a few hundred meters from the line. Only Ala will be able to match it (or not).

 

[KZD]

If Pogacar is anywhere close to his recent form UAE will set a brutal tempo from the bottom of the climb and he will perform a deadly attack a few hundred meters from the line. Only Ala will be able to match it (or not).

I think UAE will put the hammer down from Cherave onwards a bit like they did with Cipressa in MSR

 

[Lequack]

2022 profile:

vs last year, 2021:

 

[Lequack]

I think UAE will put the hammer down from Cherave onwards a bit like they did with Cipressa in MSR

At that poiint you don't even need teammates anymore I think. They need to make it harder before Cherave .

 

[Velolover2]

I don't think Ala can follow Pog this year.. I really don't. The Steppers should not take a single pull just to rely on a questionable Ala.. It's UAE's job.

If someone beats Pog here, you can find a new profile pic for me.

The only thing that could put him (and UAE) under pressure is multiple favorites attacks before the last Mur combined with the other teams refusing to take part in the chase.

 

[Blanco]

So... Pog, Bala... Who's third on the podium?

No Pog, Bala, but Bala, Pog..

 

[ppanther92]

I don't think Ala can follow Pog this year.. I really don't. The Steppers should not take a single pull just to rely on a questionable Ala.. It's UAE's job.

He was quite good at Basque Country again. Did someone hear something after his crash in Brabantse Pijl? That is obviously a question mark. Otherwise thats just his race and even Pogacar can't stop an in-form Ala here in my opinion.

 

[KenFiamingo]

Remco will go ballistic at the top of the penultimate Mur and solo to victory.

 

[Offline]

UAE don't bring Formolo for tomorrow and especially Liege is mind-blowing. Maybe the best domestique in these races in the whole peloton!

 

[SafeBet]

UAE don't bring Formolo for tomorrow and especially Liege is mind-blowing. Maybe the best domestique in these races in the whole peloton!

I don't care about FW but Liege?
He would be Pogacar best domestique and a tactical card to play in case the race is more selective than usual. Makes no sense to me unless he's ill, he looked great in the final stage of Itzulia.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Warren Barguil. Bet money on this man

 

[Skalman]

I dont even know if Ala is healthy to ride or even if he is if he is their number ono tomorrow after the crash. I have tried to search for an answer but haven't found anything

 

[Berflamand]

I dont even know if Ala is healthy to ride or even if he is if he is their number ono tomorrow after the crash. I have tried to search for an answer but haven't found anything

QST announced their line-up with Ala as leader so I guess he's ready. Also, immediately after the Brabantse Pijl they already announced he felt fine and he even trained some more after the race that day.

Apart from Alaphillippe it's an all Belgian squad for QST which doesn't happen that often, with Evenepoel, Serry, Van Tricht, Vansevenant, Van Wilder and Vervaeke.

Devenyns is out because of illness which is a big loss for Alaphillipe.

 

[Netserk]

Is Wout racing this? He is listed for LBL.

Pog's team for the race is really, really scary. I'm predicting Ala's record to be beaten. Pog might do this climb in 2:37 or something.

Remco should really give it a go on the penultimate Mur.

Cherave makes it slower. So no record this year.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

QST announced their line-up with Ala as leader so I guess he's ready. Also, immediately after the Brabantse Pijl they already announced he felt fine and he even trained some more after the race that day.

Apart from Alaphillippe it's an all Belgian squad for QST which doesn't happen that often, with Evenepoel, Serry, Van Tricht, Vansevenant, Van Wilder and Vervaeke.

Devenyns is out because of illness which is a big loss for Alaphillipe.

He's ways off of his best form, that much is clear. Losing sprints against Martinez (who couldn't even outsprint Evenepoel the next day) and Bilbao. His appearance at Brabantse Pijl was a travesty tbf. If i were QS i wouldn't bank on Ala at all as only/main option. I would send a rider up the road early in the final, then have Evenepoel attack and try to bridge on the penultimate Mur, to put the pressure on the other teams. UAE has a great squad of climbers but i'm not so sure they have the right squad to control this race. That means other teams might need to step up. Let them pull Ala to the line and he can still try to outpunch Cosnefroy, Pogacar etc regardless.

 

[Netserk]

Guessing there must have been a significant change in the course as most of the breakaway winners were elite names as well.

No. Just briefly looking at autobus, it was basically the same route from 2001 to 2007 at least.

www.cyclingnews.com presents the 71st Flche Wallonne

It was in 2010 that they switched the order of the circuits, having the second ascent of the Mur closer to the finish.

 

[Mayomaniac]

He's ways off of his best form, that much is clear. Losing sprints against Martinez (who couldn't even outsprint Evenepoel the next day) and Bilbao. His appearance at Brabantse Pijl was a travesty tbf. If i were QS i wouldn't bank on Ala at all as only/main option. I would send a rider up the road early in the final, then have Evenepoel attack and try to bridge on the penultimate Mur, to put the pressure on the other teams. UAE has a great squad of climbers but i'm not so sure they have the right squad to control this race. That means other teams might need to step up. Let them pull Ala to the line and he can still try to outpunch Cosnefroy, Pogacar etc regardless.

Not that sure about Cosnefroy tbh, he seems to have taken another step forward this year.

 

[noob]

I don't care about FW but Liege?
He would be Pogacar best domestique and a tactical card to play in case the race is more selective than usual. Makes no sense to me unless he's ill, he looked great in the final stage of Itzulia.

Probably saving Formolo for the giro. Seems their team for the giro is finally set up now.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Not that sure about Cosnefroy tbh, he seems to have taken another step forward this year.

That's exactly why i wouldn't bank on Ala to simply beat those guys.