La Flèche Wallonne 2025, 23rd April

[Samu Cuenca]

Ala to go ala in on the first ascent of the Mur?

I've heard that Remco believes in Ala and that's why he chose not to follow him in Amstel.

 

[Lequack]

Visma all in for Loe van Belle and Tijmen Graat

 

[Danskebjerge]

The pronounciation of Huys is much closer to how "hers" is pronounced, than it is to either house or Huy.

There are at least three ways of pronouncing the name Huy:

Huy - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[E_F_]

There are at least three ways of pronouncing the name Huy:

Huy - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Hm... I might get a bit asterisks retentive on you here... There are only two ways of pronouncing Huy according to that wikipedia article. One way of prouncing Hoei. And (presumably) one way of pronouncing Hu - which really ought to be the official name. Why would you use Parisian in a country that doesn't even include Paris???

 

[danielovichdk2]

Since not a single Moviestar rider finished Paris-Roubaix, I wonder if they called Valverde for this one. Just to have a shot.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

There are at least three ways of pronouncing the name Huy:

Huy - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Yet none of them sound like Huys, which is old spelling for "huis", a dutch word and unrelated to the French pronunciation of Huy. Just like in French "huit" sounds completely different than the Dutch "huid" even though they are only one letter apart.

 

[ice&fire]

Since not a single Moviestar rider finished Paris-Roubaix, I wonder if they called Valverde for this one. Just to have a shot.

Their star rider is in contract year and has just finished on the podium of two WT 1-week races this season for the first time in his career. His stated goal is to improve his 17th position from two years ago.

Un Enric Mas necesario

El balear, en su sexta temporada con el Movistar (la última con contrato en vigor), sigue siendo la piedra angular del equipo en puntos, resultados...

as.com

 

[Didinho]

Skjelmose saying Thibau will be the leader tomorrow if it’s going to be a group to the last ascent. Even with his form now and being 2nd before.

Without the crash before I would’ve put Jan Christen up there for the podium spots, maybe even to win it.
But he will have to work/launch for Pogi normally.

 

[Medvind]

Hope Nys takes it, but fear Pog and/or Remco might make the race so hard it will weaken Nys punch.

 

[Berniece]

Hope Nys takes it, but fear Pog and/or Remco might make the race so hard it will weaken Nys punch.

Evenepoel already said that he isn't just going to get Nys to the bottom of the mur. SOQ is definitely trying to make it hard, and Evenepoel will attack before they are at the foot of the climb.

 

[Red Rick]

Evenepoel already said that he isn't just going to get Nys to the bottom of the mur. SOQ is definitely trying to make it hard, and Evenepoel will attack before they are at the foot of the climb.

Making it hard isn't that trivial. There's a reason the group is so often so big at the base of the Mur.

 

[Sciatic]

We need Almeida in this race to take up the mantle of the Dan Martin legacy, by starting the final climb in 40th and then passing all but 3 riders to just miss the podium.

 

[Berniece]

Making it hard isn't that trivial. There's a reason the group is so often so big at the base of the Mur.

How often did we have a team going hard on every climb over and over again? Côte d'Ereffe, Côte de Cherave and Mur de Huy. From 80km's out go hard on every climb, and let Evenepoel attack on the top of a climb with Pogacar and see who else follows.

Worst case some riders are still more fatigued then they would be and Evenepoel might still win in a sprint.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Evenepoel already said that he isn't just going to get Nys to the bottom of the mur. SOQ is definitely trying to make it hard, and Evenepoel will attack before they are at the foot of the climb.

Well, we'd need to hear the interview, but the written quote goes "Natuurlijk willen we Thibau Nys niet ‘gratis’ naar de finale brengen. Uiteraard gaan we koers maken. De Waalse Pijl is een heel mooie wedstrijd, en als er punch in mijn benen zit, ga ik het zeker proberen." Imho that's quite ambiguous and doesn't necessarily mean he will attack before the Mur. It does mean that they intend to make life hard for punchers like Nys before the final Mur and he will try to win the race.

 

[Red Rick]

How often did we have a team going hard on every climb over and over again? Côte d'Ereffe, Côte de Cherave and Mur de Huy. From 80km's out go hard on every climb, and let Evenepoel attack on the top of a climb with Pogacar and see who else follows.

Worst case some riders are still more fatigued then they would be and Evenepoel might still win in a sprint.

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.

 

[Samamba]

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.

It's also a headwind (well at least sort of) after the Mur so you can't create gaps there.

I think the one thing that might make this race harder than some other years is the expected rain. It's not going to be like last year cause it won't be as cold and riders will be prepared, but if it actually rains the whole race it will be hard.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

It's also a headwind (well at least sort of) after the Mur so you can't create gaps there.

I think the one thing that might make this race harder than some other years is the expected rain. It's not going to be like last year cause it won't be as cold and riders will be prepared, but if it actually rains the whole race it will be hard.

Myeah, but i doubt the rain is going to be more of a problem for a cyclocrosser than it will be for the other favorites. And i mean both physically as well as technically.

 

[Samamba]

Myeah, but i doubt the rain is going to be more of a problem for a cyclocrosser than it will be for the other favorites. And i mean both physically as well as technically.

It's harder on everyone tho and could take away some of his explosivity.

 

[E_F_]

I think you have to go a bit crazy, if you really want to spice up the race and still keep the loops.

Huy loop

19.2 km, +524 m. Bike ride in Bonne Espérance, Wallonië

ridewithgps.com

 

[Cycling111]

Pogacar has already won this race and is coming from PR. I don't think he'll attack from a distance. It should be Remco, and Pogacar shouldn't give him any special support. LIDL could control the race.

 

[Medvind]

You would think that FW would suit Pidcock quite well. But he he has only been top 10 once. Once! A 6th place in 2021.

Form seems ok, 9th in AGR, but I've seen him more snappier before.

A win in FW is of course out of the question, but maybe he can fight for a podium spot. Good position on Huy will be crucial.

 

[search]

any idea if Pogacar added weight for Roubaix, or is he on a similar level as two years ago?

 

[Medvind]

Haven't seen much this year from Stephen Williams, last year's winner of FW.

Wonder if we will see a Williams on same level as last year?

 

[RedheadDane]

Since not a single Moviestar rider finished Paris-Roubaix, I wonder if they called Valverde for this one. Just to have a shot.

In their defence, they did actually have riders finishing Amstel.

 

[E_F_]

In their defence, they did actually have riders finishing Amstel.

Unlike Skjelmose and Evenepoel..!