La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[Logic-is-your-friend]

As I said after Amstel, the last time Pogacar was caught after a solo and beaten in a sprint by a Dane, he went on to do an amazing climbing performances a few days later.

The story just repeats itself.

In 2022 he got clobbered on Granon but then a few days later he won on Peyragudes as well ...just to get clobbered the next day on Hautacam again.

 

[Danskebjerge]

Skjelmose out.

Although he plays down the injuries, I'm worried that this could hurt his chances. Most of the time when riders crash hard like he did, the body spends energy recovering, and this may become that 1 percent he'll be missing on Sunday.

He is unfortunately one of those riders that crash frequently.

 

[YavorD]

What was the time on Huy?

 

[Peyroteo94]

What was the time on Huy?

I think 2'55"

 

[theyoungest]

I think the key for Pogacar was drinking the beer on Sunday.

Skjelmose and Remco didn't drink and look where they finished today. Pogacar drank it and wins.

Riders should remember that

The most enthusiastic drinker of the whole peloton, Puck Pieterse, won today as well. There could be something in your theory.

 

[Red Rick]

What was the time on Huy?

19 seconds slower than Alaphilippe in 2021

Race Analysis : La Flèche Wallonne 2025

La Flèche Wallonne 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Mur de Huy. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

Mur de Huy : chronos, watts, profil de l'ascension - Watts2Win

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

19 seconds slower than Alaphilippe in 2021

Race Analysis : La Flèche Wallonne 2025

La Flèche Wallonne 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Mur de Huy. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

Mur de Huy : chronos, watts, profil de l'ascension - Watts2Win

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

Somebody should make a website where you can compare footage of different editions of FW's Mur finish, side by side, starting from the same position at the same mark. Perhaps with an overhead map and two dots (like Strava comparisons).

 

[Andre]

my personal conclusion today: 1. sad day whenever UAE wins a race. 2. Remco is not Valverde. 3. lots of courage and strength to the 3 Scandinavians who held it until kilometer 9. 4. Has Enric Masomenos arrived yet? 5. applause for Nys for fighting off hypothermia side effects. 5. Is Vino still injured since he didn't race today along with Roglic? 6. I feel bad for Skjilmose. 7. Van Wilder DNF! 8. I wish I hadn't watched the race

 

[Medvind]

Is it too hard to say that Pog's dominance today was due to a weak field of strong puncheurs?

There was hope that Nys could challenge, but he was not fresh enough on Huy. And it was his first FW and he is still young. Maybe in 1 or 2 year he will really deliver.

Remco in supershape might have put up a fight, but he still lacks some form

Vauquelin 2nd again. Good, no doubt.
Pidcock 3rd, also good, but maybe an indication of lack of really strong puncheurs (and I'm a Pidders fan).

We lacked one or two of super-puncheurs. Say a Rogla, an Ala in good old shape, a Theuns in 2022 form or a Valverde of course.

Just have the impression that the level wasn't that high this year. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe the level wasn't much better other years.

​

 

[Red Rick]

Is it too hard to say that Pog's dominance today was due to a weak field of strong puncheurs?

​

More weather than field. Normal weather he still wins but it looks like every Fleche.

Only riders arguably top 3 here that weren't there are Roglic, Vingegaard and Van der Poel imo.

 

[scribers]

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.

I thought the race was quite a lot more than the final ascent. UAE was pressing hard across all verticals and descents up to that moment.

 

[topcat]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling. Can someone explain what happened?

 

[scribers]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling. Can someone explain what happened?

Pog Smash

 

[tobydawq]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling.

This isn't true.

 

[Didinho]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling. Can someone explain what happened?

The first one won again.

 

[Rackham]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling. Can someone explain what happened?

A bunch of adult men rode their bikes around somewhere in Belgium in the rain. The world champ won.

 

[Peyroteo94]

19 seconds slower than Alaphilippe in 2021

Race Analysis : La Flèche Wallonne 2025

La Flèche Wallonne 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Mur de Huy. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

Mur de Huy : chronos, watts, profil de l'ascension - Watts2Win

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

Putting 0.5 w/kg more than Vauquelin. Lol!

 

[Krzysztof_O]

19 seconds slower than Alaphilippe in 2021

Race Analysis : La Flèche Wallonne 2025

La Flèche Wallonne 2025 | Tadej Pogacar was the fastest on the climb of Mur de Huy. Discover all times and watts estimations on Watts2Win.

watts2win.eu

Mur de Huy : chronos, watts, profil de l'ascension - Watts2Win

The ultimate database of cycling performance

watts2win.eu

Weak, amateur era. Pogi as Merckx 2.0 confirmed.

 

[Red Rick]

Weak, amateur era. Pogi as Merckx 2.0 confirmed.

These guys couldn't even farm if their lives depended on it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I saw the race but I'm new to cycling. Can someone explain what happened?

Julian Alaphilippe safely finished a race of more than 200 km for the 147th time in his senior career.

 

[shalgo]

FW winners in the rainbow jersey:

• 1958 Rik Van Steenbergen
• 1972 Eddy Merckx
• 1985 Claude Criquielion
• 2021 Julian Alaphilippe
• 2025 Tadej Pogacar

Cadel Evans?

 

[topcat]

Julian Alaphilippe safely finished a race of more than 200 km for the 147th time in his senior career.

22nd. Slightly worse than expected. His positioning was excellent. I think that made Pog scared and that was what turned him into Cippollini. After that, it was all cadence.

 

[Didinho]

Mathieu could've podium'ed today I think. Without riding Amstel. Would love to see him here next year.

 

[Froome]

Mathieu could've podium'ed today I think. Without riding Amstel. Would love to see him here next year.

I think he could win this race. He can easily put 10 s on Vauquelin.

 

[YavorD]

These guys couldn't even farm if their lives depended on it.

Mou said they are amateurs and people say he has an inside scoop.
So Pogacar is just racing a bunch of amateurs. No wonder he is so dominant.
Not even a farmers..