The French world champion, left behind in the final, could not do better than a place at the foot of the podium this Wednesday during the Ardennes classic.
Belgian Dylan Teuns won the Flèche Wallonne (202 km, with three climbs of the Mur de Huy) on Wednesday, ahead of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, 41. Julian Alaphilippe, three-time winner of the Ardennes classic (2018, 2019, 2021), placed fourth, unable to mingle with the final victory in the last meters of the terrible wall of Huy.
The Flèche Wallonne was, as in recent years, reduced to a hill climb. A strategic and physical explanation that was slow to deliver its verdict. In the third and last ascent of the spectacular Mur de Huy (with passages at 22%), the ascent (a little over 2 minutes 45) was done with an ice ax, shortness of breath, legs on fire.
Julian Alaphilippe got stuck on the last ascent
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Well escorted, Alejandro Valverde (41 years old) who lived his last participation in a race won five times has long seemed capable of triumphing again. Before having to bow to the Belgian Dylan Teuns (3and of the event in 2017, an edition won by… Valverde).
Dylan Teuns (30 years old; Bahrain-Victorious), winner of two stages in the Tour de France (at the Planche des Belles Filles in 2019 and at Grand Bornand in 2021) signs the 40and Belgian victory on the Flèche Wallonne, the first since Philippe Gilbert in 2011. One of his most significant victories, celebrated with the jersey wide open, in search of some air after a short but terribly intense effort on the only finish at the top of a World Tour event. Always a curiosity.
Four French in the top 10, a good omen for Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday?
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Puncher Julian Alaphilippe, stuck in the last ascent, like Tadej Pogacar (eventually 12and), was never able to spread its wings. Triple winner of the event (2018, 2019, 2021), the world champion must be content with a place of honor (4and). Not enough to bring smiles back to the Quick-Step fanny formation during this spring of the classics during which she is a scarecrow. The Belgian team and its leader will play big this Sunday during Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
The French on the attack throughout the day (notably with Bruno Armirail or Valentin Ferron) achieve a nice group shot: Rudy Molard (8and), Warren Barguil (9and), Alexis Vuillermoz (10and), Benoît Cosnefroy (13and), confirming a lively classic spring (Anthony Turgis 2nd in Milan-San Remo, Valentin Madouas 3rd in the Tour of Flanders, Benoît Cosnefroy 2nd in the Amstel Gold Race). Benoît Cosnefroy summarized: “ I was well protected. In the final wall, it’s the legs that speak and I was not on top. I’m not light years away either, but I’m far from what I hoped for here. I worked less on my lactic, I tried to be strong, it was seen in the last two races where I manage to better maintain the efforts but on arrivals like that what is needed is knowing how to contain lactic acid and I was not 100%. I’m disappointed for the team. I hope to get my revenge on Sunday… »