Editorial

You don't have to look far to find the star of the Walloon Flèche race. It takes just three letters: Huy! Three letters that indicate a “Wall” with monumental slopes and breath-taking bends. Nobody will ever forget the rictus of painful effort on the faces of the cyclists, nor the communicative fervour that binds together all the fans watching them ride by – men or women.

With its slopes at 19%, the “Mur de Huy” is unquestionably the most selective and by far the most demanding stage of the whole World Cup.

The stage, which covers a hundred kilometres, enables the women's competition to benefit from the infrastructures of the Elite competition. The course covers five hill sections that include the famous road of the chapels up to Huy, known as the “Wall”.

Each year since 1998 the best teams in the world with their top competitors have set their sights on Wallonia for the most prestigious event of the season, cheered on by throngs of spectators enthusiastic about women's cycling.

Christian PRUDHOMME

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