Movistar's Alejandro Valverde has won 79th La Fleche Wallonne classic race. This 205.5km race with its start in Waremme and finish on the Mur du Huy, attracted the likes of Chris Froome and Alejandro Valverde, the 2014 winner. However, it was Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Mike Teunissen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo), Brice Feillu (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Jérôme Baugnies (Wanty - Groupe Gobert), Reinier Honig (Team Roompot), Daniele Ratto (UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling), and Pieter Vanspeybrouck of Topsport, who were into a break which formed with 190kms left.
With seventy kilometres gone, they had taken a lead of 6.45 and by the time, they had crested the Côte de Bellaire, some twenty five kilometres later, their lead was up to 7.15.
Over the Côte de Bohissau and approaching halfway, the seven out front were still 6.36 ahead.
Ben King, along with Wellens and Van Overberghe, was one of a number of riders who ended up in a ditch as the gap came down to 6.08 with ninety kilometres left.
This mark was the start of the Mur Du Huy which the riders would ascend three times. The riders were on that climb with 85kms left when Cannondale-Garmin's Dan Martin was sent crashing after a coming of together of wheels in the peloton as was Chris Froome.
Only five riders in Thomas De Gendt (Lotto Soudal), Brice Feillu (Bretagne-Seche), Jerome Baugnies (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Daniele Ratto (UnitedHealthcare) and Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise) were left as the riders took on the Mur Du Huy for a second time.
There was another crash with just under forty kilometres left which saw Walter Poels, Valgren, Ben King, Roux, Nordhaug and Moinard all hit the deck.
The gap was starting to fall and it was down to 1.24 with 35kms to go.
Five kilometres later and Jelle Vandendert and Tcatevich of Katusha came together also taking down Kevin Rezza of FDJ.
On the Côte d'Ereffe and Giovanni Visconti of Movistar and Luis Leon Sanchez of Astana bridged to the leaders and then went clear with a group led by Tejay Van Garderen of BMC some 23 seconds behind with fifteen kilometres left.
Three kilometres later and Chris Froome was one of those who hit the deck with a number of IAM Cycling ridersOnto the Cote de Cherave which has gradients of 6.9%, Tim Wellens of Lotto Soudal took over the lead with Caruso trying to get over to him.
Wellens had a lead of fourteen seconds going under the flam rouge as Rui Costa attacked, followed by the peloton.Up the wall and he was caught with 700 metres to go. Thirty riders were now in the group.
Scarponi attacked but Alejandro Valverde was on the right. Into the sprint and Vlaverde led it out and won in 5.08.21 to take his third victory in this race ahead of Alaphilippe, Albasini, Rodriguez, Dani Moreno, Vuillermoz, S L Henao, Fuglsang, Slagter and Kelderman
"It has been a hard day with many hard crashes but I am still very happy. My team is doing a great job for me and I was happy to pay them back," Valverde said about his win.
"I was well placed and set the rythmn and reaped the rewards and knew it was in the bags at the 200m mark.
"At the moment, I have won three so lets see about the Liege-Bastogne-Leige."
Source: DSG
