La Flèche Wallonne April 22nd 2015 **warning - contains unmasked spoliers**

dastardly00

It's time for the second race of the Ardennes Classics, the 79th edition of La Flèche Wallonne (1.UWT), Waremme - Mur van Huy (205.5 km).

This race usually all comes down to a mass sprint up the final ascent of Mur de Huy, but this year might be different. There is an addition of an extra climb, the Côte de Cherave (average gradient of 8.1%), just 5.5 kilometres from the finish, followed by a drop back into the finish town of Huy.

Full start-list here.

Dan Martin has finished 2nd ('14), 4th ('13), and 6th ('12). He usually arrives at the final climb relatively far back in the peloton compared to the other major contenders. Here's hoping he can get his positioning right, as he definitely is good enough to win this race.

Both Nico Roche and Philip Deignan are riding this for Team Sky.

Live TV coverage on Eurosport1 at 1pm.
Highlights on Eurosport1 at 6pm and Eurosport2 at 10pm.

pelevin

I've done the honourable thing any right-thinking Irishman would do & vote Dan. I'd think it most likely to be between the first 3 names on that list.

dastardly00

Live cyclingnews ticker here.

Pudsy33

dastardly00 wrote: »

Live cyclingnews ticker here.

Voted for Dan. I reckon it's between himself and the two Spaniards. Now to avoid this thread and watch a recording later

neris

From BBC website

Defending champion: Spain's Alejandro Valverde

Most wins: 3 - Belgium's Marcel Kint and Eddy Merckx, and Italy's Moreno Argentin and Davide Rebellin

Did you know? The race's name translates to the Walloon Arrow and it is named after the distinctly shaped profile through the Belgian region
In a nutshell: It's all about the Mur de Huy. The 200km or so race starts in Charleroi and heads east to Huy where riders complete three laps of a circuit which features the climb. It is only 1300m long but features a maximum gradient of 26% and average of 9.3%. And riders must climb it three times.

Geraint's thoughts: The Mur de Huy is where the race is won and lost. It's not a long climb, but it is steep. The race is shorter than other classics, at around 200km, and it is not as demanding overall, but it comes three days after Amstel Gold so you have to judge your effort. It's easy to run out of legs.

This race suits: Dan Martin - the Irishman is a small, light rider who climbs well

No option for Nico or Duignan on the poll

Kav0777

From Cycling news:

12:48:07 CEST
Weather update: It's warm and dry, with barely any wind. There are some concerns about the pollen count however, which is very high right now, and that may affect some racers who suffer from allergies.

Possibly not too good for Dan.

barry75

Fingers crossed for Dan Martin today

dastardly00

neris wrote: »

No option for Nico or Duignan on the poll

Sergio Henao and Lars-Peter Nordhaug are Sky's team captains for this race, and they have Chris Froome as well. So I can't see Roche or Deignan competing for the win up the Mur de Huy.

pelevin

dastardly00 wrote: »

Sergio Henao and Lars-Peter Nordhaug are Sky's team captains for this race, and they have Chris Froome as well. So I can't see Roche or Deignan competing for the win up the Mur de Huy.

Traitor. It'll be an Irish 1-2-3.

neris

dastardly00 wrote: »

Sergio Henao and Lars-Peter Nordhaug are Sky's team captains for this race, and they have Chris Froome as well. So I can't see Roche or Deignan competing for the win up the Mur de Huy.

Whats wrong with a bit of Jingoistic chest bashing? The English are great at it and always at it (but then nothing us irish a greater pleasure when they fail miserably in semi finals or on penalties)

neris

dan down. looks like touch of wheels and dan and a katusha rider on the deck. Dans hobbling about and was offered another bike but put it down

ciang

Dan about a minute behind peloton but looks like he is struggling.

Pudsy33

He must be the rider most constantly on the ground

neris

did he just say the col du bellend?

dastardly00

Dan is back in the peloton.

Pudsy33

Don't think he will be mixing it at the front today

dastardly00

Philippe Gilbert has abandoned.

neris

dastardly00 wrote: »

Philippe Gilbert has abandoned.

what happened to him?

dastardly00

neris wrote: »

what happened to him?

The road narrowed because of parked cars on either side. The peloton narrowed and bunched up a bit and a few riders including Gilbert fell. It's not too serious I'd say.

ciang

Martin looking stronger and in the top half of the peloton.

carltonleon

How much is left ?

dastardly00

carltonleon wrote: »

How much is left ?

Just under 15km.

dastardly00

Another crash. Chris Froome, a couple from BMC and half the IAM Cycling team.

neris

chaves from orica aswell in that pile

neris

nibali going for it and chasing down

dastardly00

Nibbles attacks on the second last climb.

neris

Rui Costas back

neris

that dan ?

neris

valverde

dastardly00

Well that was a massive pile of shíte.
They rode it as if it wasn't the last ascent of the Mur de Huy

neris

Valverde, Alaphillipe (Etixx), Albasini (Orica)

pelevin

Obviously not the most popular rider but in terms of results & competitiveness in different kinds of races, pound for pound I'd say Valverde has a very big claim to be considered the best rider in the world. In fact it might even be more or less no contest. Not that I'm calling for him to be loved/respected more/etc.

carltonleon

Where did Dan finish ?

pelevin

carltonleon wrote: »

Where did Dan finish ?

I think he didn't.
Roche had a good performance, top Sky rider 27th overall, 20 seconds or so down.

dastardly00

carltonleon wrote: »

Where did Dan finish ?

He was a DNF.
The peloton passed their team buses before the final ascent of the Mur de Huy so I presume he climbed off there.

dastardly00

pelevin wrote: »

I think he didn't.
Roche had a good performance, top Sky rider 27th overall, 20 seconds or so down.

Henao was 7th for Team Sky.

pelevin

dastardly00 wrote: »

Henao was 7th for Team Sky.

Oops. Roche was Sky's second best man on the day. Maybe.

dastardly00

pelevin wrote: »

Oops. Roche was Sky's second best man on the day. Maybe.

Still a decent effort by Nico though. It's his best result at FW. He was only 23 seconds behind Valverde.

Vincenzo Nibbly

Goddammit - I backed Tim Wellens at 125/1. Made for an exciting last km though!

neris

Vincenzo Nibbly wrote: »

Goddammit - I backed Tim Wellens at 125/1. Made for an exciting last km though!

You been taking your tips off Dan Lloyd on GCN?

Vincenzo Nibbly

neris wrote: »

You been taking your tips off Dan Lloyd on GCN?

He was mentioned briefly by inrng.com as well, then when I saw the price on PaddyPower.. He was certainly worth a punt!

Junior

I can not stress enough how much of a wall the Muur is .. it is a slow bicycle race up it ..

Darkglasses

neris wrote: »

You been taking your tips off Dan Lloyd on GCN?

That tip was for LBL

bazermc

Was going to watch highlights of it this evening (some of us have day jobs you know), but RTE went and ruined it on me by putting the result on the headlines on their website.

This is the same RTE that had two articles about the train incident in Paris Roubaix neither of which actualy gave the result.

dastardly00

bazermc wrote: »

Was going to watch highlights of it this evening (some of us have day jobs you know), but RTE went and ruined it one by putting the result on the headlines on their website.

This is the same RTE that had two articles about the train incident in Paris Roubaix neither of which actualy gave the result.

Any reason why RTE spelled it as 'Fleche Walloon'?

bazermc

dastardly00 wrote: »

Any reason why RTE spelled it as 'Fleche Walloon'?

Because they are a bunch of wallybrains

letape

carltonleon wrote: »

Where did Dan finish ?

He had been involved in a crash earlier I believe

ROK ON

pelevin wrote: »

Obviously not the most popular rider but in terms of results & competitiveness in different kinds of races, pound for pound I'd say Valverde has a very big claim to be considered the best rider in the world. In fact it might even be more or less no contest. Not that I'm calling for him to be loved/respected more/etc.

He is simply awesome. A world tour points machine - competitive all throughout the season. He is far from exciting usually, but he is so effective across so many different types of races.

buffalo

Roche has a diary at http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/cycling/nicolas-roche-buried-under-a-french-rider-in-a-ditch-my-teammate-wout-couldnt-get-up-31164540.html