La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[Moose McKnuckles]

Nys finished ahead of Evenepoel, FYI. Not sure why people call him "overrated". He rode well, and I can't help but think that Pog attack dented his motivation. After that, it was clear that the victory was out of reach.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Kind of feel for the podium winners who are shivering cold but still have all the ceremonial stuff to get over with. Pidcock looks to be frozen in position...

 

[glassmoon]

Waiting to hear the excuses, mate.

no need for excuses anymore... we need some questiions and accusations from big names finally... this sport is becoming a meme at this point.

 

[Danskebjerge]

This was both comical and tragic. 😆

- All those who had seen a worn Pogacar in Amstel... what is their theory now? When will people learn that a second place in a big race is not a significant sign of weakness?

- Fleche-Wallone has been among the most boring one-day classics for some years now. Only the steep climb at the end has fascinated. Today, this single remaining strength of the race was totally ridiculed.

 

[Red Rick]

This was both comical and tragic. 😆

- All those who had seen a worn Pogacar in Amstel... what is their theory now? When will people learn that a second place in a big race is not a significant sign of weakness?

- Fleche-Wallone has been among the most boring one-day classics for some years now. Only the steep climb at the end has fascinated. Today, this single remaining strength of the race was totally ridiculed.

Still not as ridiculous as Emilia last year

 

[E_F_]

Is that not literally the faintest praise possible?

Nys finished ahead of Evenepoel, FYI.

jk btw

 

[Peyroteo94]

Still not as ridiculous as Emilia last year

This is because FW doesn't favor a long range attack. You put 6 laps around Mur de Huy and he puts 2 minutes into everyone.

 

[Rackham]

Nys finished ahead of Evenepoel, FYI. Not sure why people call him "overrated". He rode well, and I can't help but think that Pog attack dented his motivation. After that, it was clear that the victory was out of reach.

His overrated-ness is proportional to the hype and his 'rating'. It's not about Nys per se. But the conversation around him. Eurosport commentators talking about him as a favorite today. Stuff like that.

How about no? Kévin Vauquelin hardly ever gets mentioned, for example. Similar age as well and he had more credentials in Flèche.

That's basic underrated versus overrated.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

- All those who had seen a worn Pogacar in Amstel... what is their theory now? When will people learn that a second place in a big race is not a significant sign of weakness?

Please tell us your theory. Pogacar who has successfully done many more and longer solos than the one at Amstel, decides to get caught and lose the sprint because he didn't like winning?

 

[Brullnux]

Monstrous from Pogacar, just totally dominant. If Remco wants to win here vs Pogacar he has to go solo, he just doesn't have a comparable acceleration uphill

 

[Netserk]

This might be the most alien Pogacar has ever looked.

Does it make you want to criticise him for skipping the race last year?

 

[Bolder]

Monstrous from Pogacar, just totally dominant. If Remco wants to win here vs Pogacar he has to go solo, he just doesn't have a comparable acceleration uphill

Yep. Trying to follow Pog on the last trip up the Huy was always going to be a losing strategy. Scary thing is that Pog didn't look unduly troubled by the gradient and probably could have accelerated a few more times...

 

[Red Rick]

Yep. Trying to follow Pog on the last trip up the Huy was always going to be a losing strategy. Scary thing is that Pog didn't look unduly troubled by the gradient and probably could have accelerated a few more times...

He looked labored in the final stretch. Which is completely normal if you drop everyone very hard with 400m to go on the Mur.

 

[Red Rick]

Watts2win has 2'55 as the Mur de Huy time, while it has the record time as 2'36.

 

[E_F_]

Watts2win has 2'55 as the Mur de Huy time, while it has the record time as 2'36.

But what were his W/kg when he attacked?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Watts2win has 2'55 as the Mur de Huy time, while it has the record time as 2'36.

Clock merchant.

 

[Red Rick]

But what were his W/kg when he attacked

Overall time matters much more. It's super consistent with Pog's history of dominance in poor conditions where everyone does poor performances.

 

[Brullnux]

safe to say he was tired in amstel.

Different races, he got cocky in Amstel and went for a solo he didn't have the legs for against a rider who is exceptional over that terrain, and a better time triallist (who had assistance, too). Today he was in control of the race but a lot more conservative, and demolished everyone with one attack.

It doesn't say much about his form in Amstel – I think if he'd ridden as conservatively on Sunday as he did today, he'd have won.

 

[Red Rick]

Different races, he got cocky in Amstel and went for a solo he didn't have the legs for against a rider who is exceptional over that terrain, and a better time triallist (who had assistance, too). Today he was in control of the race but a lot more conservative, and demolished everyone with one attack.

It says much about his form in Amstel – I think if he'd ridden as conservatively on Sunday as he did today, he'd have won.

If it had been today's weather in Limburg last Sunday, he also would have won.

 

[zlev11]

was that the lamest Fleche Wallonne ever? it's crazy how every edition with Cherave sucks and they keep putting it back in.

 

[Red Rick]

was that the lamest Fleche Wallonne ever?

Probably.

The talk about Evenepoel making a long range attack and the actual gaps made do give it a comedic side to be honest

 

[Brullnux]

If it had been today's weather in Limburg last Sunday, he also would have won.

Sure, but I think in any weather there's not anyone on the startlist who beats him in a drag race up Huy (or the Kwaremont, or Redoute, etc.)

 

[E_F_]

It's super consistent with Pog's history of dominance in poor conditions where everyone does poor performances.

Yeah, I'd say so too.

Overall time matters much more.

Could you elaborate a bit on that? Doesn't seem at all obvious to me.

 

[Bolder]

He looked labored in the final stretch. Which is completely normal if you drop everyone very hard with 400m to go on the Mur.

Everyone who attacks before the last bit looks beat, but he looked pretty fresh to me compared to past winners. I miss the typical editions of this race when you'd have multiple attacks from a bunch of riders...of course, I miss that style of racing in general sine Pog decided he didn't only want to win GTs....

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah, I'd say so too.

Could you elaborate a bit on that? Doesn't seem at all obvious to me.

The peak 20s don't matter that much if you can do the same overall time. I doubt Pogacar's attack were actually crazy numbers, I simply think the rest couldn't do much more than hold 8W/kg.