La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[RedheadDane]

Kinda funny that someone took the time, and effort, to write 'Huy' all the way up.
Are they afraid the riders are going to forget which climb they're on?

 

[Sciatic]

The 6th monument is finally here.

Alaphilippe to attack from the bottom of huy like bentancur in 2013 and ride away from them all.

If Ala attacks from the bottom he won't even finish in the top 25. But he does know how to win this race, which means keeping the powder dry until farther up the climb. Don't know if that established rule of thumb applies to Pogacar though.

 

[Sciatic]

Huy is one of those words with an aspirated h, so “Le Mur de Huy” sounds like “the wall of yes”. It’s another cycling site with a Catholic background. The official street name is la Chemin des Chapelles. Along the climb are seven chapels: six small white ones, and a bigger one on top. The big chapel contains a statue of a black madonna, “la Vierge de la Sarte”. Once every seven years it’s carried through town during a procession.

The Mur de Huy has been the finish of this race since 1985. Local hero Claude Criquielion won that edition. The steepest bend was named after him. He took it on the outside to make it less steep. Back then cyclists struggled to reach the top. Nowadays with better material and preparation they go much faster. It’s an annual contest between the most explosive climbers.

Along the road there are photos of former winners like Criquielion, Verbrugghe, Aerts, Argentin and Valverde. They are the modern saints. It’s a nice place to visit, also outside of the cycling season.

Great description, thanks!

 

[Gigs_98]

Pogacar but only in a close sprint. Something about this climb just doesn't seem to suit him.

Also I really wish Roglic would come here more often. His attack in 2021(?) was incredible and I think if there is one climb where he might have a shot at beating Pogi it's this one.

 

[Gratemans]

For our English speaking friends: it's pronounced like the first syllable of wiener.

 

[Red Rick]

Pogacar but only in a close sprint. Something about this climb just doesn't seem to suit him.

Also I really wish Roglic would come here more often. His attack in 2021(?) was incredible and I think if there is one climb where he might have a shot at beating Pogi it's this one.

Primoz vividly remembers being critized for attacking too far out in Fleche so he has tried to avoid attacking more than 100m out every since.

That was the fastest climb and IIRC they did the first 1'30 pretty slowly and then they did insane numbers for the final minute.

 

[topcat]

For our English speaking friends: it's pronounced like the first syllable of wiener.

That's all of us because it's an English speaking forum. We are all friends.
At times we get mad at each other, scream at each other but we still love each other.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Kinda funny that someone took the time, and effort, to write 'Huy' all the way up.
Are they afraid the riders are going to forget which climb they're on?

It's part of its charm, and it also keeps fans from writing other stuff on there.

 

[RedheadDane]

That's all of us because it's an English speaking forum. We are all friends.
At times we get mad at each other, scream at each other but we still love each other.

How do you know I'm not running all my posts through Google Translate before posting?

It's part of its charm, and it also keeps fans from writing other stuff on there.

Would that be a problem?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

This is the one race where Lidl actually should try to control things. It suits Skjelmose and (even more so) Nys very well, it suits both Pogacar and Evenepoel less than almost any other hilly race, and in the typical scenario they therefore have IMO the best shot of any team. Just need to either make sure that final effort is as fresh as usual, or reel in Pogacar and/or Evenepoel if either/both do end up going before the final climb.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

How do you know I'm not running all my posts through Google Translate before posting?

You always argue semantics and do word play so you don‘t do that, but maybe I use translators?!?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

I also remain of the opinion that Roglic would likely be a multiple-time winner of this race if he'd been both able and willing to start here all three times since his last outing in 2021, and that he would be the out-and-out favourite if he was here now. It's bizarre that he probably isn't even going to add this one to his palmares before he retires.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Pog, Remco and Ben Healy to get a minute on the peloton. Healy attacks seven times on the Huy and comes fourth.

 

[E_F_]

Can they just make this race 50 km or something and only do one ascent of the Mur de Huy?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Would that be a problem?

It depends on what people write, of course. Someone wrote encouraging messages to Michael Rasmussen and some less positive words about Jesper Worre on Jelshøj outside Århus in the summer of 2007, and I believe they are still somewhat visible to this day.

 

[E_F_]

some less positive words about Jesper Worre on Jelshøj outside Århus in the summer of 2007, and I believe they are still somewhat visible to this day.

My local climb mentioned! Incredible. I assume Worre was dunked on for not liking the mightly Jelshøj enough?

Having actually read the conversation, I now understand. I don't think I've noticed those remains... Ever. Obviously I would have noticed them back then if I could read.

Yeah, you're right they were still there as of 2023: link

 

[Amazinmets87]

Whereas Fleche is not the 6th monument (this is of course Milano-Torino), it is a great race.
Will Remco and Pog try their usual 150km attacks?
Will it come down to the last Mur?
Needless to say, Ala will have the last laugh.

If anyone could get away on this course it's one of those two. I still say no chance.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

My local climb mentioned! Incredible. I assume Worre was dunked on for not liking the mightly Jelshøj enough?

As I recall, they were only referencing his role in Rasmussen's deroute, but it could still be the real reason the race has stopped visiting the city.

 

[E_F_]

As I recall, they were only referencing his role in Rasmussen's deroute, but it could still be the real reason the race has stopped visiting the city.

After 10 years he just couldn't take it anymore..!

 

[RedheadDane]

Having actually read the conversation, I now understand. I don't think I've noticed those remains... Ever. Obviously I would have noticed them back then if I could read.

Yeah, you're right they were still there as of 2023: link

You couldn't read in 2007?
What are you, 20?

And I don't think those remains would be much of an issue.

 

[E_F_]

You couldn't read in 2007?

No, I miscalculated, I would probably been able to read that for about 1.5 years, when it was written... 20, though? I would have been 2 in 2007!

 

[RedheadDane]

No, I miscalculated, I would probably been able to read that for about 1.5 years, when it was written... 20, though? I would have been 2 in 2007!

So... mid-late 20es? kiddo!

 

[E_F_]

So... mid-late 20es? kiddo!

I feel old, though.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

I feel old, though.

You are if you‘re in your late 20s already

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Can they just make this race 50 km or something and only do one ascent of the Mur de Huy?

No because the world does not revolve around you, or any of us infact, but instead around it's axis. .

Best race of the year