La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[red_flanders]

Problem is that the field in Fleche is very geared towards riders who can survive the Mur at 80% pace, and there is plenty of rest between these hills to recover. Not to mention Ereffe is very easy for this field, Cherave isn't that special, and even the Mur has the problem of being very top end so any gaps created on there tend to be small and the group tends to cluster together again pretty quickly.

I don't know if it's equivalent, and you make fair point, but some similar criticisms were made of the Brabantse Pijl course and that broke up nicely. Different course, different field, but...if a couple of the big guns start going full gas from 40k-60k (or further) from the finish, seems like that could make for a hard and selective race. But I get that all the teams are designed for and geared up for getting numbers to the final climb, and it's a different calculus.

Just have seen the "normal" get upended so many times of late that I'm not sure with both Evenepoel and Pogi in the race that it will go as per usual.

 

[Didinho]

No Schachmann after his crash in Amstel, replaced by Vervaeke.

 

[Berniece]

I don't think he'll attack from a distance. It should be Remco, and Pogacar shouldn't give him any special support.

More wheelsucking?

 

[Cycling111]

More wheelsucking?

For a teammate like Van Wilder.

Others do it on Tour climbs....

Let Pogacar do it one time. He doesn't have to go on an attack he's not interested in. Remco didn't go on Alaphilippe's attack.

The UAE's DS has said that Pogacar doesn't need to attack far in FW; if Remco wants to do it, he can do it. UAE and LIDL will pull behind.

 

[Berniece]

For a teammate like Van Wilder.

Others do it on Tour climbs....

Let Pogacar do it one time. He doesn't have to go on an attack he's not interested in. Remco didn't go on Alaphilippe's attack.

Pogacar can do what he wants, it’s just world champion unworthy.

 

[YavorD]

Others do it on Tour climbs....

Like Pogacar did on PdB?
That's what you mean, no?

Yes, I know, circumstances.

 

[Cycling111]

UAE DS on Pogacar's Fleche Wallonne return: "He does not have to make the race again from 50 kilometers to the finish"

Behind many of Tadej Pogacar's wins this years is a long solo attack and a story to go along with it. At Amstel Gold Race he attempted to do so once again, but this time it did not work out and he was...

cyclinguptodate.com

They say it clearly here. Pogacar is doing this race more to train for Liège. He's not going to attack from far away, and they don't feel compelled to win for once after the fatigue of the PR.

When he attacks from a distance, it's boring. For once he doesn't want to do it, don't criticize him If others do what he doesn't want, he doesn't have to do the same.

Pogacar is attacking 365 days a year; if he doesn't do it for 5 days, he's not a wheelsucking.
Remco attacked Pogacar only one day in the Tour, at the gravel stage. That doesn't mean he's not an attacker.

After the PR, don't ask Pogacar to attack at 80km in the FW, when he didn't even do it in 2023 without PR.

 

[Sciatic]

Pogacar can do what he wants, it’s just world champion unworthy.

At the point Ala and Pogacar went off, Remco was was back in the peloton I think still intentionally conserving energy after his chase back from the crash. Seemed to have been a good strategy too: he rode most of the next 10 kms (after Pogacar was gone at 46 to go) tucked in the pack before he even started forcing things at the front, during which time Pogacar was riding solo.

 

[Berniece]

At the point Ala and Pogacar went off, Remco was was back in the peloton I think still intentionally conserving energy after his chase back from the crash. Seemed to have been a good strategy too: he rode most of the next 10 kms (after Pogacar was gone at 46 to go) tucked in the pack before he even started forcing things at the front, during which time Pogacar was riding solo.

I think he was in the back when Pogacar attacked because he only just returned, and wasn’t positioned properly yet after the crash.

 

[YavorD]

I think he was in the back when Pogacar attacked because he only just returned, and wasn’t positioned properly yet after the crash.

Remco was back in the peloton with 80km to go, when I started watching, perhaps even earlier.

Surely 40 kilometres is enough to come back to the front and position well, no?

 

[Sciatic]

I think he was in the back when Pogacar attacked because he only just returned, and wasn’t positioned properly yet after the crash.

I agree, but he stayed solidly mid-group for the 10 km after Pog was off.

 

[yaco]

Williams just returned to racing after three months off due to injury.

 

[rghysens]

Pog with an easy victory.

 

[Wyndbrook]

Pog with an easy victory.

What, has he won already?

 

[Berniece]

Remco was back in the peloton with 80km to go, when I started watching, perhaps even earlier.

Surely 40 kilometres is enough to come back to the front and position well, no?

You are correct. Not sure why I wrote that. There was an explanation, but I can't seem to find it anymore. Why Evenepoel was a bit behind when Alaphilippe attacked.

 

[Cycling111]

What, has he won already?

Yes....



In 2023

 

[benc]

Mas feels like a good outsider pick here. His previous results here don't show it but he's been very strong in service of Valverde here before and is clearly in great shape. Been very strong on similar climbs at the Vuelta as well.

 

[Prim]

You are correct. Not sure why I wrote that. There was an explanation, but I can't seem to find it anymore. Why Evenepoel was a bit behind when Alaphilippe attacked.

IIRC he wanted to recover after the chase back from the crash and was gambling on their being no attacks on that particular climb (can´t remember the name of the hill...)

 

[Netserk]

I think he was in the back when Pogacar attacked because he only just returned, and wasn’t positioned properly yet after the crash.

He had returned long before, we saw him near Pogi on Cauberg on the first live images.

 

[Tim Cahill]

The 6th monument is finally here.

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

Yes that's right, I really do think that people misunderstood his Amstel show, he was just trolling, practicing his 2.5 minute attacks. You can tell because he completely pulled the pin and sailed back into group 3. Pogacar looked like he was struggling trying to follow it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1914788311316521179

Here is the attack, an honourable move using the full length of the Mur and not going before it starts, looked like Martin beat him on the line but good on the organisers calling an audible and not entertaining such silliness.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes that's right, I really do think that people misunderstood his Amstel show, he was just trolling, practicing his 2.5 minute attacks. You can tell because he completely pulled the pin and sailed back into group 3. Pogacar looked like he was struggling trying to follow it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1914788311316521179

Here is the attack, an honourable move using the full length of the Mur and not going before it starts, looked like Martin beat him on the line but good on the organisers calling an audible and not entertaining such silliness.

Always surprises me in general how passive the Mur is raced given that there should be plenty of riders who should prefer it to be a more consistent tempo than a pure lactate production contest in the final 3rd.

 

[topcat]

Yes that's right, I really do think that people misunderstood his Amstel show, he was just trolling, practicing his 2.5 minute attacks. You can tell because he completely pulled the pin and sailed back into group 3. Pogacar looked like he was struggling trying to follow it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1914788311316521179

Here is the attack, an honourable move using the full length of the Mur and not going before it starts, looked like Martin beat him on the line but good on the organisers calling an audible and not entertaining such silliness.

Honourable mention to PhilGil for absolutely killing it, chasing Carlos down (and dragging the others closer) before completely blowing up and finishing 15th, 15 seconds down.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Yes that's right, I really do think that people misunderstood his Amstel show, he was just trolling, practicing his 2.5 minute attacks. You can tell because he completely pulled the pin and sailed back into group 3. Pogacar looked like he was struggling trying to follow it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1914788311316521179

Here is the attack, an honourable move using the full length of the Mur and not going before it starts, looked like Martin beat him on the line but good on the organisers calling an audible and not entertaining such silliness.

Imagine Ala attacking, Pogačar destroying himself and Remco to close the gap, while Enric Mas casually rides away from everyone.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Nys for the 2nd

 

[CyclistAbi]

Imagine Pogi winning both Flèche and LBL.