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Julian Alaphilippe usurps Valverde’s Flèche Wallonne throne

First French winner since 1997

April 18, 2018
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A thrilling La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday saw Julian Alaphillipe (France/Quick Step) outlast five-time winner Alejandro Valverde on the Mur de Huy to take a huge career win. Valverde was runner up for a second time. A threatening move centered around Vincenzo Nibali was neutralized right before the big showdown on the Mur.

The Route

Sure, there are 11 climbs including three clambers up the Mur de Huy over 198.5-km in La Flèche Wallonne, but everyone knows that the race is really about the last trip up the Mur de Huy (1.3-km, 9.6 percent). Positioning is key for the final of the three climbs of this iconic wall.

Some would say the race is really about what happens in the final 150-metres, when the road kicks up to 19 percent.

The Breakaway

An octet of riders broke clear early in the race and reached the first climb of the day, the Côte de La Vecquée, with a lead of 4:50 over the peloton. A wait for a train aided in the fugitives’ bid for glory.

The escapees crested the first climb up the Mur with a lead of 1:30 and 58-km to go, Movistar and UAE-Emirates having done a lot of work in the bunch to control the gap.

A Strong Group Heads Into the Circuits
With the escapees within sight, a surge from Astana created a 24-rider group that clipped off the front of the peloton. Nibali tried a move from this new gang. The remnants of the break were brought to heel on the Cote d’Ereffe.

From the 24-riders, a half-dozen bounced away, Nibali the most dangerous of them. Movistar laboured to stitch up the situation. The sextet had a 30-second lead on the Cote de Cherave. Valverde continued to lose Movistar teammates in the chase group.

https://twitter.com/laflammerouge16/status/986601550771572737

Last Lap

Nibali and friends–Maximilian Schachmann (Quick-Step), Cesare Benedetti (Bora-Hansgrohe), Jack Haig (Mitchelton-Scott), Tanel Kangert (Astana) and Anthony Roux (Groupama-FDJ)–tipped over the second Mur with 38-seconds over the peloton. Twenty-eight kilometres remained. Finally, Movistar started getting chase assistance from Dimension-Data. But by the final trip up Cote d’Ereffe, the gap had grown some more.

Sky and Lotto-Soudal pitched in and the gap began to shrink. With 10-km to go it was 32-seconds.

The penultimate climb was Cote de Cherave (1.3-km at 8.1 percent) cresting with 5.4-km remaining. A couple of fugitives trickled off the back. Nibali accelerated over the top, the field only 13-seconds behind. Heading to the Mur, Schachmann and Haig bolted on Nibali and Kangert.

The 30-rider group swept up Nibali and Kangert at the foot of the Mur. Then Haig was brought to heel. Michael Woods slipped off the back of the group.

Alaphilippe emerged the strongest in the final 200-metres, with Valverde unable to close the gap in the last 50-metres. It was Quick Step’s fourth WorldTour victory of the season.

Valverde was second and Jelle Vanendert (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal), fourth in 2012, rounded out the podium. Schachmann, in a truly impressive performance, placed eighth. Michael Woods came in 33rd.

Ardennes Week concludes on Sunday with the 104th Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the fourth Monument of the year.

2018 La Flèche Wallonne
1) Julian Alaphilippe (France/Quick Step) 4:53:37
2) Alejandro Valverde (Spain/Movistar) +0:04
3) Jelle Vanendert (Belgium/Lotto-Soudal) +0:06
33) Michael Woods (Canada/EF-Drapac) +1:22