La Flèche Wallonne 2024 par Tour de France™ - Dailymotion

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00:00 Welcome to the 88th edition of La Fleche Valente,

00:07 cycling's annual pilgrimage up the magnificent Mure de Huy.

00:12 Last year, Tadej Pogačar mastered the Mure,

00:23 but the Slovenian isn't here to defend his title

00:25 as he prepares for the Giro d'Italia.

00:28 We do have two former winners on the start line though,

00:31 in Dylan Terns and Mark Hirschi.

00:34 Our shape is quite similar.

00:39 I showed some good form already,

00:42 it gives me some confidence for the next races.

00:44 Matias Schjelmozer was second behind Pogačar last year

00:48 and would love to go one better,

00:50 while the 2020 runner-up at Benoit Cosnefoix

00:52 showed his form by winning Brabantse Peel last week.

00:57 I'm confident from last year.

00:59 I felt like last year's race was my real breakthrough.

01:02 Now today is not here,

01:05 I feel even better, so I hope I can take a step up.

01:08 Tom Pidcock won the Amstel Gold Race on Sunday,

01:12 but he says Fleche Valente is a very different beast.

01:15 I've never got it right here.

01:17 Last year I came in really far back.

01:20 I did recover from Amstel last year.

01:25 This year I'm in a different place.

01:28 It's a tricky one, it's tactical.

01:33 I think there's a few guys who can go really fast on top of that hill.

01:37 We'll see.

01:38 Some changes to the route this year,

01:40 as the 175 riders cover just under 200km

01:44 between Charleroi and Ruy.

01:46 The Cote de Cherave is no longer part of the finishing circuit

01:49 due to roadworks,

01:50 but the peloton will go up the Mur de Ruy no fewer than four times

01:54 as we celebrate the race's 40th finish on the iconic climb.

01:58 The weather could also be a big factor,

02:00 with heavy rain forecast in the afternoon.

02:03 It was bright enough during the first few hours of racing,

02:13 with the riders clipping along at over 42km/h.

02:17 Six men made the breakaway,

02:18 opening up a gap of around four and a half minutes.

02:21 Lillian Calmagian of Antimar Chehuanti

02:23 Alan Jusom of Total Energies,

02:25 James Whelan of Q36.5,

02:28 Igor Chazan of Astana Kazakhstan,

02:30 Ioan Mainz of Bingoal

02:32 and Shomin Joal Risti of Uskotel Asgardi.

02:35 Lidl Trek and Ineos Grenadiers were pacing the peloton

02:47 on behalf of Schelmose and Pidcock,

02:50 and the gap soon began to tumble,

02:52 especially when the heavens opened

02:54 with around 100km to go.

02:56 The leaders heading up the Mur de Ruy for the first time

03:01 with around three minutes in hand,

03:03 but these conditions were going to turn the race

03:06 into a real slog.

03:08 Soon, many of the pre-race favourites were really struggling.

03:12 Turns was the first of the big names to drop.

03:19 The Belgian wouldn't be repeating his exploit of two years ago.

03:22 Meanwhile, plenty of riders were no doubt getting excited

03:25 at what was turning into the most open Flesche Wallonne in years.

03:29 Well, nothing like a nice midweek ride in Belgium.

03:33 Mainz and Joal Risti were the last of the breakaway riders to be caught

03:37 and there was still a long way to go, over 60km.

03:40 On to the second climb of the Mur de Ruy,

03:44 with more favourites blowing up.

03:46 First it was Mathias Schelmose,

03:48 and then the 2020 winner, Marc Hirschi.

03:51 That's a surprise.

03:56 Hirschi now is being distanced on the Mur de Ruy.

03:59 Valentin Madouas leading the way over the summit.

04:04 There were still a lot of strong riders in this peloton

04:07 and soon one of them decided to try his luck solo.

04:10 Soren Kruijwandersen flying away with 60km to go,

04:13 with Marcus Holgaard chasing in vain.

04:17 It has been over 20 years since we had a solo winner at this race,

04:21 but the day looked like a man on a mission.

04:23 He led by over a minute,

04:26 as they made their way to the Mur for the third time.

04:29 Could Kruijwandersen hold on over the punishing final lap?

04:35 The alarm bell starting to ring back in the peloton

04:41 as riders decided to attack and try to hold on.

04:44 As riders decided to attack and try to hunt Kruijwandersen down,

04:47 Stevie Williams was the first man on his tail

04:50 and the Welshman would be joined by four others,

04:53 Maxime Van Hills, Kevin Vaucoulin, Santiago Buitrago and Richard Carapaz.

04:58 Unox then upping the temper from the peloton

05:01 and slowly but surely they began to reel the Dane back in.

05:04 The peloton first at catching this chase group

05:07 and then putting Kruijwandersen out of his misery on the Cote d'Arref.

05:13 Everybody back together again

05:15 before the decisive final hike at the Mur de Huy.

05:18 Here's that very difficult corner.

05:28 Decathlon Agi Duselle Mondial represented on the left-hand side.

05:33 This is where we've just passed through Virage-Claude Curriculion,

05:39 where the gradients are at 26%.

05:42 You can see how much you have to bide your time.

05:45 Carapaz is there just waiting to strike.

05:48 Riders starting to go backwards.

05:51 One of those from Groupama FDG.

05:54 Cosnefoix is there, Carapaz in the pink,

05:59 Scoins and still there's no attack.

06:02 Johannesen right-hand side.

06:04 Williams is getting set and Williams decides now is the time.

06:08 Williams accelerates away. What a show of power by Stephen Williams.

06:13 As he now goes for glory.

06:15 Has he gone at the right time? Has he gone a little bit too early?

06:19 Williams has played an absolute blinder today.

06:22 He's made every single move he has to.

06:25 Stephen Williams of Israel Premier Tech, only about 100 metres to go.

06:29 Being hunted down now by the peloton behind.

06:32 Gutrago is there. Williams checks one more time.

06:35 He's being chased and he's being chased hard.

06:38 Is Williams going to go all the way to the finish

06:41 and be the first British winner of the Flesche Wallonne?

06:44 He's almost there now. Here comes the attack behind.

06:48 Williams of Israel Premier Tech.

06:50 Can he get to the finish line or is he going to be caught?

06:54 Stephen Williams wins Flesche Wallonne,

06:57 the first British winner of the Flesche Wallonne.

07:00 It's already been a fantastic year for Stephen Williams

07:03 as he won the Tour Down Under in January.

07:06 And now he becomes the first ever British rider to win La Flesche Wallonne.

07:11 The Welshman joining his team-mate Terns and his DS,

07:14 Rick Verbrugge, on the honour roll.

07:17 And it was a superb final attack as he secured his eighth career success.

07:23 What a day. What a day. I'm so happy right now.

07:28 I can't believe I just won Flesche.

07:31 I've been watching this race for years

07:33 and I've always wanted to come here with decent legs to try and win it.

07:38 And today with the weather, I got to see the race.

07:42 I got to see the race and I got to see the race.

07:45 I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

07:48 I'm so happy I got to come here and win it.

07:52 Today with the weather, I do enjoy racing in this kind of weather.

07:57 To come away with a victory, it's just over the moon.

08:02 Williams taking it ahead of Vaucoulin, Van Gils, Cosnafoix and Bui-Trago.

08:07 Four of the riders who chased down Crow Anderson ended up in the top five.

08:12 27-year-old Williams conquering the first classic of his career

08:16 and taking the podium to win the race.

08:19 The race is set for Sunday.

08:21 Pagacia and Mathieu van der Poel will be back in town

08:24 for the fourth monument of the season, Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

08:27 Join us then and thanks for watching.

08:31 (MUSIC)

08:36 [BLANK_AUDIO]

La Flèche Wallonne 2024 - Extended Highlights - Facing the wall

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La Flèche Wallonne 2024

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