Flèche Wallonne - 74th edition

Tomorrow, is the mid-week classic Fleche-Wallonne.  There are many short steep climbs along the 198 km parcours typically found in the Ardennes.  But it is the famous climb in the town of Huy - the Mur de Huy that will separate the men from the boys.  They will ride up the Mur de Huy three times, the second to last time is now only 30 kms from the finish, which, of course, is also at the top of the Mur de Huy.  So, a major selection can be anticipated on the second time over the top with a leg burning slo-mo drag race up to the finish for the select few.

This Mur (wall) is 1300 m in length with an elevation change of 128 m.  The average gradient is 9.3% with the steepest section at 17%!

Le Mur de Huy from Harm Job on Vimeo.



This year, Alberto Contador will be riding Fleche-Wallonne.  He traveled by car some 20 hours with his teammates to get there - the volcano has disrupted air travel in euroland.  With Contador's explosive climbing style and highly successful spring campaign, he may just be the man to beat.  I don't think he came here to loose as he appears to want to stamp his imprimatur on this season ahead of the July showdown with Lance Armstrong.

LA won Fleche in 1996.

This race is a prelude to the second of the Ardennes week races - the famous classic Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.  More on that later in the week.

BTW - as I am sure everybody knows ;-) - the race can be watched live right on your computer screen on www.cylcing.tv