La Flèche Wallonne 2026, 22nd April

[AlpRaid]

clown race.

 

[Berniece]

Something is really bad with Remco if he can't tolerate AGR+FW before LBL.
To me it's more like he doesn't want to get beaten in a uphill sprint against lesser riders. He probably would have to go deep to win FW (a solo in FW).

Evenepoel wants to ride it, his team is saying no.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Meh, he gets outhustled time and time again.

I'm cheering for Paul, of course, no better way to set up for LBL, facing the dragon.

FW and LBL couldn't be more different though:
1) FW is a 2-minute uphill sprint after a long warm-up
2) LBL is a battle of attrition sponsored by UAE

Maybe Paul will match Teddy's initial surge but could pay for getting too close to the Sun!

 

[Wyndbrook]

Evenepoel wants to ride it, his team is saying no.

So I guess when it was held on the saturday with Liege the next day it would have be no,no,no.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Evenepoel wants to ride it, his team is saying no.

Isn't it weird that Remco (given his accomplishments and personality) has so little to say in his teams? is it really the case? Pogacar does basically anything he wants except the Tour obligation set by sponsors, last year he overruled Gianetti's decision to skip Roubaix.

 

[Berniece]

Isn't it weird that Remco (given his accomplishments and personality) has so little to say in his teams? is it really the case? Pogacar does basically anything he wants except the Tour obligation set by sponsors, last year he overruled Gianetti's decision to skip Roubaix.

I think it's exactly what he needs

 

[Old-school]

Besides the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de France, this is the one race missing from Roglic's palmares (in my opinion). I think he had the potential to be the best rider in history on the Mur de Huy. That he has not even won it once is a real shame.

The crazy thing about Fleche is that I think it was won from a break every single time since the finish was moved to the Mur de Huy, only to then be won from the peloton for the last 20 years every time.


If this race was not on a Wednesday, I think it would have been won from a break 2-3 times in the last 20 years. It is absolutely not as impossible as some peole make it out to be. Evenepoel or Pogacar could have it probably done if their team went all in for them, but sadly they are not even starting.

I hope this time there is a small chance for a breakaway with some big names a little before Mur de Huy. With Remco I think that possibility would have been even stronger.

 

[Didinho]

Seixas after the recon: surprised the roads are so bad.

Welcome to Belgium. We’re (almost) used to it.

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Seixas after the recon: surprised the roads are so bad.

Welcome to Belgium. We’re (almost) used to it.

The Messiah should try nice, rural roads near Roubaix.

 

[Gigs_98]

Sh*t startlist. Kinda exciting

 

[Red Rick]

Sh*t startlist. Kinda exciting

Hey this was all of us on day 1 of Itzulia.

 

[Pantani_lives]

The Flèche Wallonne is a race with a very specific character, because usually not much interesting happens until 1 km before the finish, but the final murito is always spectacular. It's the unofficial world championship for explosive climbers. Some people like it, some don't. Some argue that the finish should be moved to make it a longer final, but a race like this once a year on a Wednesday can be enjoyable, as long as you don't expect the favorites to attack 80 km before the finish. In the past twenty-three editions the winner always came out of the reduced bunch. Aerts and Verbrugghe remain the last early attackers to be rewarded.

The Mur de Huy has been the finish since 1985, when local hero Criquielion grabbed his first of two wins. The steepest bend, halfway up the climb, was named after him. His strategy was to take the "Virage Criquielion" on the outside, because it's less steep. However in recent years that rule has been broken. The short climb is a beautiful decor, with the six white chapels and the church with the Black Madonna on top.

Tomorrow we might get the youngest winner ever with Paul Seixas, in the absence of some of the big names. Other candidates are Skjelmose, Vauquelin, Grégoire, Cosnefroy, L. Martinez, D. Martinez and Halland Johannessen. A first-time winner is very likely, because former laureates Teuns, Hirschi and Alaphilippe aren't what they used to be — although the latter still holds the climbing record of 2:40. We'll see if anyone comes close to that tomorrow.

 

[Tonton]

FW and LBL couldn't be more different though:
1) FW is a 2-minute uphill sprint after a long warm-up
2) LBL is a battle of attrition sponsored by UAE

Maybe Paul will match Teddy's initial surge but could pay for getting too close to the Sun!

I Agree that FW and LBL are different, that was not my point, sorry if I used shortcuts. I want Seixas to show up in Liege with momentum, I don't expect him to beat Pog, but I want to see the gap shrink.

First, Paul has to take care of business tomorrow and it's no easy feat: some high-rollers won't be there but the field is really strong. La Flèche Wallonne could/should have been a monument. Historically it was. How it wasn't a monument? One of the deciders got bit by Valverde's dog, I guess...grew extra beard...lost hair...

Paul's latest interview shows him humble, stating that he never raced FW, never raced Huy at race pace, but with three laps, I hope that he figures it out. And get momentum before LBL. Give Pog a run for his money.

Let's not forget Lenny, Romain, Vauquelin, France can get 3-4 in the top-10.

 

[pelotonIQ]

Will be contested on the last Huy like always. Seixas stay in front, avoid crash. Use domestiques to chase back break and to also make race hard. I think he can win, he is for sure one of the favorites.

 

[Berniece]

If a small peloton gets together to the Mur, I can see Skjelmose taking this if Seixas is not well positioned or attacks too early. The French have a very high chance of winning though because besides Seixas, they have Lenny, Cosnefroy, Grégoire and Vauquelin all with decent chances.

When you list them like this, they can create a really nice team for WC RR, and try to create chaos

 

[Old-school]

I would love to see Seixas launch on Cherave after a strong leadout, as I think he would benefit more from a hard race.

If a small peloton gets together to the Mur, I can see Skjelmose taking this if Seixas is not well positioned or attacks too early. The French have a very high chance of winning though because besides Seixas, they have Lenny, Cosnefroy, Grégoire and Vauquelin all with decent chances.

I guess the other scenario for Seixas would be to put a hard pace from the very beginning of the final Mur, taking the risk to collapse before the end line.

 

[Boehmand]

Isn't it weird that Remco (given his accomplishments and personality) has so little to say in his teams? is it really the case? Pogacar does basically anything he wants except the Tour obligation set by sponsors, last year he overruled Gianetti's decision to skip Roubaix.

"New team, who dis?"

 

[Taxus4a]

Leo Bisiaux could be a candidate to win, but I think the team will work all together for Seixas, The main favorutite.
Meybe all the podium is french this time.

It is crazy to say that a cyclist at his 19, firt time he participate at the prestigious Fleche Valone is the clear favourite. . He could fail, of course, it would be normal as well, but no doubt he is the clear favourite at the start and it looks he even could win from far if he doesnt want to save energy for Sunday.

 

[Kazistuta]

A full French top5, thank you. Cost No Fry, Sexy Ass, Wacky Lin, Lenny and Greg.
Busy Oh! should be full domestique today.

My bet is Wacky Lin, he's learned the perfect pacing strategy for MDH.

 

[Red Rick]

Should be a headwind on the leadin and lowest slopes

 

[ice&fire]

Should be a headwind on the leadin and lowest slopes

If the Mur doesn't protect them from the headwind it's a fake Mur

 

[Danskebjerge]

The drama at this early stage of the race is found at the rear end of the peloton, so I'd wish they would show a bit more from this angle when going up the climbs. It's not very important for the battle for the race win, but for the riders fighting to stay with the peloton, it's life and death.

It's the same in the Grand Tours - I'm always curious to see how the heavier (or sick or whatever) riders are doing on the early climbs (where the grupettos are formed), but the cameras tend to follow the front of the peloton, even though it's clear nothing important will happen there.

 

[red_flanders]

A full French top5, thank you. Cost No Fry, Sexy Ass, Wacky Lin, Lenny and Greg.
Busy Oh! should be full domestique today.

My bet is Wacky Lin, he's learned the perfect pacing strategy for MDH.

I'm assuming you went to a Lance Armstrong seminar on "How to Charm the French". 🤣

 

[Netserk]

lenny with a moustache !

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Can anyone compete with George bennett on this finish?