Preview: La Flèche Wallonne and La Flèche Wallonne Féminine

On Wednesday professional cycling turns its attention to the Huy in the Walloon area of Belgium. The men’s and women’s versions of the La Flèche Wallonne (the Walloon Arrow) both end on the dreaded Muur de Huy climb, 1300-metres of 9.3% grade, with a brutal 26% section in a bend near the top.

The women face 12 climbs over 127-km, and five-time champion Marianne Vos (The Netherlands/Rabo-Liv) will make her 2013 World Cup road debut to defend her Flèche title. Also returning to the World Cup is 2010 winner Emma Pooley (Great Britain/Lotto-Belisol). 2012 champion Emma Stevens (USA/Specialized-Lululemon) leads the World Cup after winning the first event, the Ronde van Drenthe, and finishing runner-up in the next two races. Stevens will have help from Canadian Karol-Ann Canuel.

Canada’s team consists of Allison Beveridge, Catherine Dessureault, Annie Ewart, Annie Foreman-Mackey, Leah Kirchmann and Stephanie Roorda. Australia, France and the United States also send national teams.

The men’s race is a short one for a WorldTour Ardennes Classic at 199-km with three trips up the Huy. Unlike the Amstel Gold Race, where the 34 climbs start at the 9-km mark, the Arrow’s steep hills don’t begin until 83-km from the gun in Bastogne. The race tends to be predictable, with a reduced pack hitting the base of the Huy together and then engaging in an agonizing 90-second battle. Positioning is key, as are the right kind of legs.

Philippe Gilbert (Belgium/BMC) has had superior legs in the Ardennes this spring, winning last week’s La Brabantse Pijl and Amstel Gold double. Last year, the 2011 champion was in the mix, but went too early on the Huy without the sustained power he’s displayed this spring.

Last week Joaquim Rodriguez (Spain/Katusha) crashed out of the Amstel Gold, but the winner of the 2012 edition will ride in support of title holder Daniel Moreno (Spain), who was one of two riders to catch and pass Carlos Betancur (Colombia/Ag2r) in last year’s final 100-metres.

Other riders showing good form are 2005 winner Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar), seventh in 2013, and Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland/Omega Pharma-QuickStep), fifth last season. Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Sharp) has raced the last six Arrows, and his highest placing was 9th in 2010. Hesjedal’s compatriot Christian Meier (Orica-GreenEdge) will be looking after the interests of Michael Albasini (Switzerland).

Legends! “@Ride_Argyle: These gentleman are headed to fish the creek by our hotel,but not before a quick pic pic.twitter.com/jMLAU6Zf3e”

— Ryder Hesjedal (@ryder_hesjedal) April 22, 2014