La Flèche Wallonne: a departure from Ciney and the return from Cherave
New this year for the men's edition of the Flèche Wallonne, the first of the two Walloon classics will start for the first time from the Province of Namur. From the town of Ciney. The distance remains generally similar, with 205 terminals to pass (compared to 198 in 2024), but the approach to the terrible local circuit, around Huy, will necessarily be done using a new approach. Via the Côte de Ver, Rochefort, and the ascent of the Petite-Somme climb. “On narrow, winding roadswarns Jean-Michel Monin, the course manager for ASO. Then, we will head towards the unmissable Mur de Huy, which will be preceded each time by the Ereffe coast and that of Cherave, which is making its return.” After a year of absence. This sequence will have to be completed three times.
In terms of the plateau, it will be tough. “With many former winners, like, normally, Tadej Pogacar, but also Alaphilippe and Hirschi who are now associated with Tudor, without forgetting a lot of young talents to follow, like Lennert Van Eetvelt, Kevin Vauquelin, second last year in an edition won by Stephen Williams and made memorable by the freezing rain which fell on the peloton, or Lenny Martinezdetails Christian Prudhomme. Among the ladies, there will also be the world's elite. With Lotte Kopecky, Demi Vollering, Fem Van Empel and others. Including, perhaps, Anna van der Breggen, the record holder with her seven victories, who returns to competition this season.”
The Dutchwoman's program should be announced this Thursday, during the presentation of her team, SD Worx. For the ladies, the race will again start from Huy and will return, in its first part, to the Bohisseau coast, which has disappeared from the route in recent seasons.
4,405 meters of altitude difference for the Doyenne
At Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the main course will remain the same as last year. With La Redoute which has regained these letters of nobility in recent years, with the decisive attacks of Remco Evenepoel on two occasions and that, in 2024, of Tadej Pogacar. “This emblematic hill of the Doyenne is once again decisive, and that suits us very wellcomments, with a smile, Jean-Michel Monin. Concerning the course, we are introducing the first difficulty a little earlier this year. Or the Mur Saint-Roch, placed here in the part going towards Bastogne. Because we love micro-changes… We will also return to La Roche-en-Ardenne, via the Col de Haussire. Thirty years after his last visit to the Doyenne, in 1995.” This hill, in which there is a Claudy Criquielion stele, is considered by Cotacol to be the hardest in Wallonia. “After the sequence of Mont-Le Soie, Wanne, Stockeu and Haute Levée. The last difficulty will remain that of La Roche-aux-Faucons, the summit of which is 13.5 kilometers away. So it will be formidable again.”
With its 4
405 meters of difference in altitude over the 252 terminals of the route. “Among the ladies too, it will be very toughcontinues Christian Prudhomme. Liège is undoubtedly the most difficult one-day race on the women's calendar. For which we will have the return of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. And among the men, we hope for the duel between Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel.”
-They will liven up the summer but not only: here is when Evenepoel, Pogacar and Vingegaard will face each other in 2025
Alongside the two elite events, there will always be Liège-Bastogne-Liège Challenge on Saturday April 26, with its three distances, for cycle tourists and cyclists. But also the youth events. With the ride, for 7 to 15 year olds, on the final route of the Doyenne on the big day. But also with the two events of the Pesant Club Liégeois, Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the juniors on May 10 (UCI 1.1) and for the hopes on April 19 (UCI 1.2).
Our consultant Axel Merckx discusses Arnaud De Lie's start to the season
Related News :