3 electric minutes in Huy
The finish line of La Flèche Wallonne has been located at the top of the Mur de Huy (1.3 km at 9.3%, with ramps reaching 26%) since 1983. Both the men's and women's races include three climbs up the Mur, but with such a demanding finale, both events are usually blocked and everything is typically decided on the final ascent, which the world's top puncheurs complete in just over three minutes. These three minutes are among the most intense and spectacular of the year.
It is worth noting that La Flèche Wallonne is the second of the three races that make up the Ardennes triple, which began last Sunday with Amstel Gold Race and has its queen event in Liège-Bastogne-Liège next Sunday.
Men's race
Route: The men's event covers 193 km and 3092 meters of elevation gain. The final circuit, which the riders must complete three times, includes the Côte d'Ereffe (2.1 km at 5.4%), the Côte de Cherave (1.3 km at 7.5%), and the Mur de Huy (1.3 km at 9.3%), at the top of which the finish line is located.
Favorites: After Tadej Pogačar's (1200) exhibition last Sunday at Amstel Gold Race, it is impossible not to consider him as the top favorite for this race as well, although the punch required for the Mur de Huy opens the door to pure puncheurs like Benôit Cosnefroy (400), Dylan Teuns (600), Michael Woods (600), Sergio Higuita (1000), Tiesj Benoot (400), Marc Hirschi (600), Andrea Bagioli (400), Warren Barguil (400), Victor Lafay (400), Rubén Guerreiro (400), Valentin Madouas (400), or Thomas Pidcock (600).
Women's race
Route: The women's race covers 131 km, with 2054 meters of climbing. The riders must complete two full laps of the final circuit, but will also ascend Huy three times, as they enter the circuit before the Mur.
Favorites: After Anna Van Der Breggen's 7 consecutive victories, Marta Cavalli (800) won last year. Currently, Cavalli is not the same as before her crash at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift 2022, and does not seem to have a chance of victory. The main favorites are Demi Vollering (1200), Liane Lippert (1000), Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Silvia Persico (800), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (1000).
Photo: © J. Gruber / A.S.O / La Flèche Wallonne