Flèche-Wallonne 2024 Race Report: Stephen Williams surprisingly gained the 2024 Flèche Wallonne. After a chilly and moist race of 200 kilometres, the British rider jumped away with 300 metres to go and nobody had the legs to catch him earlier than the road. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Accommodations) completed second, aheadMaxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) in third.
The route of the Flèche Wallonne had modified this yr. The Wall of Huy (1.3km at 9.6%) needed to be climbed 4 occasions, as an alternative of the three of earlier years. The Côte de Cherave (1.3km at 8.1%) wasn’t in last circuit and the end was after 198 kilometres, on the standard summit of the Mur de Huy.
One of many favourites – Tiesj Benoot at the beginning in Charleroi
The beginning in Charleroi was held beneath a sunny blue sky, however that wasn’t to final. Six riders made up the break of the day: Lilian Calmejane (Intermaché-Wanty), Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), James Whelan (Q36.5), Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Johan Meens (Bingoal WB) and Igor Chzhan (Astana Qazaqstan). They managed to take a lead of 4 minutes on the peloton, the place INEOS Grenadiers and Lidl-Trek had been working for Tom Pidcock and Mattias Skjelmose.
Sunny and dry at the beginning – Rain on the end
A chilly begin for the break
The climate situations then modified. The temperature was nonetheless round 10º C, however there was heavy rain and the robust wind made the race an actual battle in opposition to the weather. At one level there was hail, which might have turned to snow. The chilly was an excessive amount of for a lot of riders and the break virtually stopped because the peloton continued to lose riders. Earlier than the ultimate acquired going, high riders Pello Bilbao and Dylan Teuns had already deserted.
The peloton had been to not thinking about a chase… but
Lidl-Trek’s Sam Oomen was on the entrance of the peloton early within the race
Groupama-FDJ and EF Training-EasyPost took on the work within the peloton. This induced extra riders to be dropped on the second climb of the Mur of Huy. Skjelmose, Marc Hirschi and Tom Pidcock had been the most important victims. The peloton made up of round 50 riders coming into the ultimate 60 kilometres. Søren Kragh Andersen noticed his probability and attacked, adopted by Markus Hoelgaard. Hoelgaard couldn’t get far sufficient away and was caught on the Côte d’Ereffe.
The rain and the Mur de Huy
The remaining favourites determined to make their transfer. Maxim Van Gils and Ben Healy put the stress on, however they didn’t get a lot nearer to Kragh Andersen. The Dane of Alpecin-Deceuninck began the penultimate climb of the Mur de Huy with a lead of 1:30. Behind him the peloton break up, with Stephen Williams because the strongest climber. Santiago Buitrago, Richard Carapaz, Van Gils and Clément Champoussin had been additionally on this high group of climbers. However they had been nonetheless at round a minute down on the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider.
Domen Novak main Ben Healy on the Mur de Huy for the primary time
It was turning into a tough day – Tosh Van der Sande would quite be in his home in Spain
Williams held himself again from a full assault and dropped to the Van Gils group, the remainder of the favourites weren’t far behind. Each teams had been working nicely collectively, which introduced down the lead. Uno-X Mobility was additionally working onerous and first pulled within the group with Williams and Van Gils after which additionally Kragh Andersen, 15 kilometres from the end, on the Côte d’Ereffe. Visma | Lease a Bike was additionally working for his or her man, Tiesj Benoot.
EF had been holding the tempo excessive, however who for?
There was an assault from an Uno-X rider (Tobias Halland Johannessen?), however he was closed down by Tim van Dijke. The peloton then headed in the direction of the final climb of the Mur de Huy (1.3km at 9.6%). Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale led the race on to the wall of a climb, however there was solely round 20 riders left with an opportunity of victory.
Soren Kragh Andersen went solo and was trying good… for some time
Toms Skujins and Benoît Cosnefroy had been on the entrance because the group began the struggle up the steep climb. Nobody had an acceleration left of their legs, however then Stephen Williams pushed his solution to the entrance and jumped away with 300 metres to go. The British rider had made sufficient of a niche, that nobody might catch him earlier than the end line. A robust Kévin Vauquelin was the subsequent strongest and did get nearer to Williams, however it was too late. The Frenchman completed in second place, simply forward of Maxim Van Gils in third.
Stephen Williams attacked with 300 steep metres to go
Win for Williams
Race winner, Stephen Williams (IPT): “What a day, what a day. I’m so glad proper now. I can’t imagine I gained the Flèche Wallonne. I’ve been watching this race for years and at all times needed to come back right here with good legs and attempt to win. Right this moment the climate was dangerous. I really like racing in it. To then take the win… I’m over the moon. The boys helped me all day. They gave me the absolute best probability to get a outcome. That is very particular. The highway was a bit blocked and everybody was ready. I noticed that it was nonetheless 300 meters and I believed: if I can soar away from right here and achieve 5 or ten seconds on the group, then I’ve an excellent probability of staying forward. I seemed again and the legs had been empty, however I’m very glad that I might hold it going. I’m exhausted, I can’t discover the phrases and I’m fairly emotional. That is such a tricky sport. Successful races is tough, particularly in these Classics, so I’m very glad. I spoke to him (Rik Verbrugghe) the previous few days, sure. Dylan (Teuns) additionally gained right here a number of years in the past, he additionally is aware of the way it ought to be finished. That gave me confidence. The group was simply nice.”
The 2024 Flèche Wallonne podium: Kevin Vauquelin, Stephen Williams and Maxim Van Gils
Flèche-Wallonne Outcome:
1. Stephen Williams (GB) Israel-Premier Tech in 4:40:24
2. Kévin Vauquelin (Fra) Arkéa-B&B Accommodations
3. Maxim Van Gils (Bel) Lotto Dstny at 0:03
4. Benoît Cosnefroy (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
5. Santiago Buitrago (Col) Bahrain-Victorious
6. Tobias Halland Johannessen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility at 0:10
7. Romain Grégoire (Fra) Groupama-FDJ
8. Dorian Godon (Fra) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
9. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
10. Guillaume Martin (Fra) Cofidis.
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