Alejandro Valverde of Movistar won the Fleche Wallonne in Belgium, pipping Irishman Dan Martin of Garmin-Sharp.
A race of 194kms from Charleroi to Huy, featured three climbs of the Mur De Huy in its ten climbs, saw the first break come after an hour of race and had Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Sharp), Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) and Jonathan Clarke (UnitedHealthcare) in a three man break.
Onto the first climb of the race , the Côte de Bellaire after 84kms and the trio had a lead of 6:40 on the peloton and it was still 6.20 with 74kms to go as they headed towards the fourth climb - the 5.9% Côte d'Ereffe.
On the Côte de Bohisseau, Clarke was dropped by Navardauskas and Van Hecke who battled on with a three minute lead with less than forty kilometres remaining.
That margin was shattered by the time the duo had got over the Mur De Huy for a second time and was down to thirty five seconds.
With twelve kilometres remaining and on the Côte d'Ereffe for a second time, Navardauskas and Van Hecke were caught and the attacks started to happen with Jeremy Roy of FDJ getting away with five kilometres to go.
He was soon caught and there was a crash in the peloton which slowed down a number including race favourite Philippe Gilbert.
Inside the final kilometre and on the steep ramps of De Huy, Michal Kwiatkowski attacked but Dan Martin of Garmin Sharp shot passed him, However, Alejandro Valverde drew level with Martin and the Movistar rider waited and picked his moment to sprint to the finish line and win in 4.36.45 ahead of Martin, Michal Kwiatkowski, Bauke Mollema, Tom Jelte Slagter, Jelle Vanendert, Michael Albasini, Roman Kreuziger, Daniel Moreno and Philippe Gilbert.
Source: DSG
