La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[Vinther1991]

Most boring classic this year. Pogacar was absolutely strong, but as others pointed out, this was obviously also a weak field of puncheurs, especially after Skjelmose abandoned.
I agree even MvdP could have gone on the podium today. A pity Roglic and Vingegaard didn't participate, as they would also have done well.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Mur de Bretagne, Cipressa, and Castelfidardo.

Especially in a Fleche where performances are down because of cold, I think Van der Poel would struggle less than some others.

And no I am not talking about beating Pogacar here.

Maybe in some one off freak edition. Once. Ever.
PS, how is Cipressa at all a reference for Mur de Huy?

 

[Peyroteo94]

The hype around MVP is getting ridiculous. MVP would be fighting for top20 in Mur de Huy

 

[Berniece]

The hype around MVP is getting ridiculous.

The irony. But MVP can do it, he dropped Alaphilippe in Sienna the year he won Flèche Wallone

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Honestly, I‘ve been reminded of the climbing capabilities of early career Thin der Poel now, he would be a much more serious threat for FW then. These days, Roubaix Rouleur Poel wouldn‘t necessarily feature at the front of affairs even in weather like today‘s.

 

[Froome]

When has MvdP ever shown anything that would lead you to believe that?

Mure bretagne, Castelfidardo.

Just a 3 min climbing effort. Short climb, so it's not a problem for him.

 

[James M]

Honestly, I‘ve been reminded of the climbing capabilities of early career Thin der Poel now, he would be a much more serious threat for FW then. These days, Roubaix Rouleur Poel wouldn‘t necessarily feature at the front of affairs even in weather like today‘s.

MvdP in Fleche is wishful thinking nothing else. He would have to skip RVV/PR and specifically peak for it, loose weight and then I would be inclined to see what he could achieve for sure in that scenario. Nonetheless, in any other scenario, a top 3 finish if he targeted his RVV/PR and his current form as cyclist, not a chance.

In Bretagne 2021, he was a completely different rider. Why are people still using that as a reference point and not recognizing how wild and irrelevant it is in 2025? The race also had 1,000 meters less vertical, and with his current weight, he would have been dragged down by accumulated fatigue in Flèche. No wonder some get surprised so often, what are we talking about here

 

[Netserk]

Honestly, I‘ve been reminded of the climbing capabilities of early career Thin der Poel now, he would be a much more serious threat for FW then. These days, Roubaix Rouleur Poel wouldn‘t necessarily feature at the front of affairs even in weather like today‘s.

Yeah, now he makes even Van Aert and Pogi look slim.

 

[KZD]

When champions lose they imediately try to win in their chance, its exactly what happened with Pogačar today, rode the perfect race and was clearly above the rest. Great work from Christen to set him up.

Vauquelin coming 2nd for the second year on a row, the race does seem to suit him especially with the rain. Pidcock with a good third place. Nys coming 8th is a bit disappointing but I think the race was simply too hard for him. Remco 9th was also a bit disappointing but these super high gradients aren't exactly his cup of tea either.

 

[hayneplane]

When champions lose they imediately try to win in their chance, its exactly what happened with Pogačar today, rode the perfect race and was clearly above the rest. Great work from Christen to set him up.

Vauquelin coming 2nd for the second year on a row, the race does seem to suit him especially with the rain. Pidcock with a good third place. Nys coming 8th is a bit disappointing but I think the race was simply too hard for him. Remco 9th was also a bit disappointing but these super high gradients aren't exactly his cup of tea either.

Hard not to feel Nys could have been at least 2-3 places higher without the energy expense of having to drop back himself every time he wanted food/water/dry clothing after he was alone for the last 40kms with no teammate.

 

[Blanco]

Kinda weird how Purito only won it once, we've literally named the entire category of climb after him. Though I guess Mur de Huy is kind of too short and shallow for Purito

Well.., he won that Tour stage, so maybe we could count it twice, but yeah, I agree it is kind of short for him.

 

[Gratemans]

Anybody got a link to a video where we can see the acceleration from above?

 

[scribers]

Anybody got a link to a video where we can see the acceleration from above?

I feel like they were showing in race if you have access to archive of the whole race

 

[scribers]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1915052631204204683

View: https://x.com/festinaboy/status/1915052631204204683?s=46&t=X4NqNG7J5ZQ-MxPOi53ECQ


Shows overhead of the very beginning of the attack but cuts to the front moto cam when the violence sets in.

 

[Leinster]

That wasn't the point. How come he was getting caught to begin with. He sat up when they were 8km from the line and they were 100 meters behind him. He was getting caught either way.

Ok, my positive take from Amstel related to this is that Remco has maybe learned his lesson (with regards to the Olympics and Worlds last year) that absent a teammate willing/able to sacrifice themselves at a decent level to make inroads or keep the gap manageable, if Remco needs to chase Pog or whoever is off the front; he should just go ahead and chase and not wait for favours from other riders. Just consider it a TT/pursuit to the finish and may the best man win.

I can think of several past examples of riders who should have adopted this strategy, but lost time doing the flappy arms thing (Dumoulin to Bardonnechia behind Froome being a classic example).

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

Can someone please explain why this is considered just below the monuments but is a semi-classic and not a classic?

 

[Juan Pelota]

How come this race used to always end in a breakaway, but the last twenty years or so it's always a bunch uphill sprint? Did they change the course?

 

[elguapo]

No sweat. Pogi really involved his teammates to lay the groundworks When Healy attacked the UAE dou, almost everyone was already spent when Pogi countered.

 

[Sciatic]

Can someone please explain why this is considered just below the monuments but is a semi-classic and not a classic?

I don't think many people think this is "just below the monuments." In the nomenclature when I started following racing in the 90s, they divided races into being Classics, which included the monuments as well as races like Gent, Amstel, San Sebastion, and surprising to think of it now, Paris-Tours. And then semi-classics for races like DvV. The dividing line, at least in the British or US cycling mags, seemed pretty set. But I don't actually remember if Fleche was in one or the other. But it never was considered above Gent or Amstel.

 

[VayaVayaVaya]

I don't think many people think this is "just below the monuments." In the nomenclature when I started following racing in the 90s, they divided races into being Classics, which included the monuments as well as races like Gent, Amstel, San Sebastion, and surprising to think of it now, Paris-Tours. And then semi-classics for races like DvV. The dividing line, at least in the British or US cycling mags, seemed pretty set. But I don't actually remember if Fleche was in one or the other. But it never was considered above Gent or Amstel.

Thanks. I did some more research actually and I think I was just misled by Google AI. When I searched for Fleche Wallonne, it says it is a semi-classic, which I thought meant it was not only a tier below The Monuments but also the “classics,” which I understood to refer to quite a few races. I think it actually is a classic. That’s how it’s referred to everywhere else. I view it as a classic in the group of 5 or so races below the monuments in prestige.

 

[Leinster]

Flèche has always been a “Classic,” but as the calendar has evolved, the races that have ended up with midweek status have been deemed slightly less prestigious than the Saturday/Sunday races. There were times in the past when FW and LBL were held on Saturday/Sunday as the “Ardennes Weekend,” and there was, apparently, a period where FW was considered the bigger prize of the 2, but the current hierarchy seems to be set for a long time to come.

 

[Netserk]

Can someone please explain why this is considered just below the monuments but is a semi-classic and not a classic?

Since the World Cup in the late 80's when it didn't make the cut, its distance has been cut and it hasn't been a weekend race any more. It's like E3, but with former glory.

Gent-Wevelgem on the other hand was moved to Sunday and has a proper distance again, so it is on the level of Amstel.

 

[gavia88]

Since the World Cup in the late 80's when it didn't make the cut, its distance has been cut and it hasn't been a weekend race any more. It's like E3, but with former glory.

Gent-Wevelgem on the other hand was moved to Sunday and has a proper distance again, so it is on the level of Amstel.

difficult to find some proper information about length and hills in the era before the Mur de Huy on the internet.

 

[Netserk]

difficult to find some proper information about length and hills in the era before the Mur de Huy on the internet.

memoire-du-cyclisme.eu has the info on dates, results and length, but you may need to use archive.org.

First finish on the Mur in 1985 was 246 km long. The race was shortened since 1990 (going from 253 km the previous year to 208 km).

EDIT: Ah, I see the official site has the length for all editions listed: https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/en/history

EDIT2: By the time of the winner, 1985 was probably 219 km long.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

EDIT: Ah, I see the official site has the length for all editions listed: https://www.la-fleche-wallonne.be/en/history

So in 1973 they had to do 850 kilometers? Damn, what a hard race.