All classifications
| 1 | Alejandro VALVERDE |
| 2 | Samuel SANCHEZ |
| 3 | Karsten KROON |
| 4 | Frank SCHLECK |
| 5 | Patrik SINKEWITZ |
| » overall rankings |
Starters' list | Time schedules
The race
Wednesday 19 April 2006Charleroi > Huy - 202 km
The newsflashes
15:58Valverde wins it
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (CEI) wins the Flèche Wallonne. Second spot goes to his compatrot Samuel Sanchez (EUS. Third is Karsten Kroon (CSC).
15:56Astarloa caught
Astraloa has been caught and dropped by Etxebarria and Valverde.
15:56Astarloa attacks
Igor Astarloa now in the race lead with about 5m on his followers.
15:55Leukemans caught back
In the final climb up the Mur de Huy, Leukemans has been caught back.
15:54Off goes Leukemans
Belgium Leukemans (DVL) has taken off. He leads the race with 1km to go.
15:523 kilometres to go
Still around 20 riders in the lead with under 3 kilometres to go. All the main favourites are present.
15:517 caught back
The leading group of seven riders has been caught by their closest followers. Now around 20 riders in the lead with 5kms to go.
15:487 in the lead
Now seven riders in the race lead with around 10 kms to go: Di Luca, Schleck, Bettini, Sinkewitz, Etxebarria, Valverde, Sanchez. They have a 8" advantage on their closest followers (including Basso).
15:46A grroup of 15 in the lead
A group of around 15 riders are together in the lead including: Di Luca, Basso, Schleck, Kroon, Bettini, Sinkewitz, Sanchez, Bertagnoli, Etxebarria.
15:44Valverde joins the leaders
Alejandro valverde has caught up with the leaders. At the top of the CĂ´te de Ahin, the results are as follows:
1. Astarloa (BAR)
2. Kessler (TMO)
3. Valverde (CEI)
Three in the lead
Three riders have managed to break away: Kessler (TMO), Bettini (QST) and Astarloa (BAR).
15:40Freire caught
Oscar Freire is caught back by the pack... The real battle is ON. Koldo Gil Perez (SDV) gives it a go!
15:39Freire alone in the lead
With 13kms to go, Alexander Moos (PHO) has stopped his effort and is caught by the pack. Oscar Freire is therefore alone in the lead but the pack is closing in.
15:3615 kilometres to go
The pack is slowly but surely moving closer to the two leading riders... The gap has dropped down to 22" just before the penultimate climb of the day up the CĂ´te de Ahin (top at km 191). All the main favourites are still in the pack.
15:3120 kilometres to go
With 20kms to go, Freire and Moos still have a 25" lead on the pack.
15:2625 kilometres to go
With just under 25kms to go, the leaders have a 20" advantage on a pack of around 60 riders.
15:20Moos first at top of climb
TOP 3 of CĂ´te de Bohissau
1. Moos (PHO)
2. Freire (RAB)
3. Gil Perez (SDV), 38" behind
Leaders at top of the climb
The two race leaders have made it to the top of the CĂ´te de Bohissau with a 40" advantage on the pack.
15:09Looking good for leaders
AT km 165, the gap is now of 1’18 for the leading riders. Next climb to come: the CĂ´te de Bohissau at km 173.5.
15:04Freire and Moos still lead
While seven Liquigas riders still lead the pack, the front men now have a 1’15 advantage with 40 kilometres to go.
15:01Cooke wins women’s race
Great Britain’s Nicole Cooke has just triumphed in the women’s race. The British rider, already victorious last year wins the Flèche Wallonne for the third time.
14:52Moos first at top of climb
TOP 3 of CĂ´te de Hautebisse
1. Moos (PHO)
2. Freire (RAB)
3. Calcagni (LIQ), 1’05 adrift and leading the pack.
Over 1’ lead
Climbing up the CĂ´te de Hautebisse, the leading riders have a 1’10 advantage on a pack led by the Liquigas team of Danilo Di Luca.
14:475th climb to come
Leading the race, Oscar Freire and Alexander Moos are moving closer to the fifth climb of the day, the CĂ´te de Hautebisse (top at km 154.5).
14:45Looking better for two leaders
The two leading riders (Freire and Moos) now have a 55sec advantage on a pack that has seriously slowed down.
14:39Gap drops
Triple World Champion Oscar Freire and his break away companion Moos now have a 10" lead at km 146.
14:3520" lead for front men
The two front riders (Freire and Moos) are now enjoying a 20" advantage on the pack.
14:30Two men in the lead
Two riders have managed to take off: Oscar Freire (RAB) and Alexander moos (PHO). They have a 15" advantage on the chasing pack.
14:22Le Mevel first at top of climb
Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel (C.A) has made it first to the top of the CĂ´te de Pailhe (km 132.5), ahead of Grivko (MRM) and Freire (RAB).
14:21All over for Posthuma
Joost Posthuma has just been caught by the pack. Meanwhile several riders are struggling. Commesso, Finot have been dropped.
14:20Slim lead for Posthuma
Just a few kilometres before the climb up the CĂ´te De Pailhe, leading man Joost Posthuma has a 6" advantage on the pack at km 131.
14:17Posthuma in the lead
After a few attempts, Dutchman Joost Posthuma (RAB) has eventually managed to break away from the pack.
14:08End of break!
The two leading riders Finot (FDJ) and Arrieta (A2R) have been caught back by the pack at km 122. The two men had enjoyed a 102km break. The pack is now bunched at a fairly fast pace.
13:57Kessler back in the pack
End of attempt for Mathias Kessler (TMO). The German is back in the pack while the leaders see their advantage drop down to 1’10.
13:56Only one man in the counter-attack
German Mathias Kessler (TMO) is now the only rider counter attacking. All the others have been caught back by the pack. At km 115, the leaders (Finot and Arrieta) have a 1’15 lead over Kessler and 1’30 on the pack.
13:54Counter attacking!
14 riders have broken away from the pack after a first attempt from Devolder (DIS). In the group are the likes of Garzelli (DSC), Voigt, Sorensen (both CSC), Bettini (QST), Fothen (GST), Valjavec (LAM), Kessler (TMO), Contador, Jaksche (both LSW), Pineau (BTL). They are 2’10 behind the leading riders while the pack is 2’25 adrift.
13:41Under the 5’ mark!
With now under 100km to go before the finish, the gap has dropped to 4’35 for leading riders Finot and Arrieta.
13:34Bettini leads the pack
The main pack has just made it to the top of the Mur de Huy (km 95). In a first group of 15 riders Paolo Bettini (QSI) made it first on the line with a 20m lead on the other bunched riders. The gap with the escapees: 5’. In the last positions of the pack is Ivan Basso (CSC), apparently struggling.
13:26Arrieta first at top of Mur de Huy
The two leading riders have just cleared the second climb up the Mur de Huy (one more to go!) at km 95. JosĂ©-Luis Arrieta made it first ahead of his French companion Finot. The gap led with the pack by the Milram team is of 7’35.
13:11Second climb of the day
Frenchman Frederic Finot has made it first at the top of the CĂ´te de Amay (km 81.5) ahead of Arrieta. The pack led by Pronk (UNI) is 6’55 adrift.
TOP 3 of CĂ´te de Amay:
1. Finot (FDJ)
2. Arrieta (A2R)
3. Pronk (UNI)
Finot and Arrieta increase their lead
The two front men have again increased their lead over the pack. Now 6’.
Of the two leading riders, 34-year-old Spaniard José-Luis Arrieta is the elder having started his career back in 1993. He was among the Banesto team that saw Miguel Indurain triumph on the Tour de France in the mid 90s. He moved to the AG2R team at the beginning of the year alongside compatriot Francisco Mancebo.
Frederic Finot is 29 years of age and has won a few races in France including a stage of the 4-Days-of-Dunkirk back in 2003.
Gap drops at top of Mur de huy
The pack led by Danilo Di Luca (LIQ) has just made it to the top of the Mur de Huy (km 65.5). The gap has dropped down to 4’25.
TOP 3 of the climb:
1. Arrieta (A2R)
2. Finot (FDJ)
3. Di Luca (LIQ)
The last 5 winners in the pack
While the two leading men (Finot, Arrieta) have just made it to the top of the Mur de Huy (Arrieta first on the line), the last 5 winners of the Flèche Wallonne are currently in the pack: Verbrugghe, Aerts, Astarloa, Rebellin and Di Luca.
12:35First climb up the Mur de Huy
The two leading riders have started the first of three climbs up the Mur de Huy. A 1.3km climb.
12:29Puncture for Finot
Leading rider Frederic Finot (FDJ) suffered a puncture. After repairing, he is still riding with escapee companion JosĂ© Luis Arrieta. Both now have a 5’20 advantage on the pack at km 61.
12:18Gap increases
With just over 50km covered of this Flèche Wallonne, the two leading riders are now enjoying a 3’40 gap on the pack.
12:07Over the 2min mark!
The two leading riders (Finot, Arrieta) have again increased their advantage. Now 2’10 at km 43 on a pack not too concerned yet by the front men.
12:03Off go the ladies
While the men have started their Flèche Wallonne at 11:14 PM, the ladies have only just taken off for the women’s event, fourth round of the UCI World Cup. The competitors will be covering a 106km course with the same finish as the men’s race but only one climb of the Mur de Huy.
12:00Gap grows for two leading men
Frenchman Frederic Finot (FDJ) riding alongside Spaniard JosĂ© Luis Arrieta (A2R) have increased their lead on the pack: now 1’55 at km 39.
11:512 in the lead
Two riders have managed to break away from the pack at km 25: Finot (FDJ) and Arrieta (A2R). The leaders have a 30" advantage at km 30 on a pack led by the Chocolade Jacques and Lampre teams.
11:408 climbs today
Eight hills will have to be climbed today on this 70th Flèche Wallonne: Mur de Huy 1 (km 65.5), Côte de Amay (km 81.5), Mur de Huy 2 (km 95), Côte de Pailhe (km 154.5), Côte de Bohissau (km 173.5), Côte de Ahin (km 191) and a final climb up the Mur de Huy (km 202)...
11:29Bunched pack!
Despite a few attempts including that of Bonnaire (BTL) and a group of 3 (Posthuma, Le Mevel, Moreau), the pack remains bunched at km 10. The weather conditions are absolutely perfect so far with clear skies and a bright sun shine.
11:2628 different nationalities on the race
The 193 riders in the pack come from 28 different countries. The largest contingent is from Spain with 40 riders. We then have 40 Belgians, 24 French, 21 Italians, 13 Germans and 13 Dutchmen.
11:24VDB replaced by Thijs
On the starting lists before the start of this Flèche Wallonne, Franck Vandenbroucke (UNI) has finally not started the race. He was replaced by Belgian compatriot Erwin Thijs wearng bib number 220.
11:20End of break
Early escapee, Daniel Musiol (MRM) has been caught back by the pack at kilometre 3.
11:16Official start at 11:14 PM
The race is on. The official start has been given at 11:14 PM and immediatley after the start Daniel Musiol (MRM) has broken away from the pack.
11:15193 at the start
193 riders have started the day’s race and are currently on their way to the official start. One man has failed to make it to the start: Mori (SDV). Meanwhile, a fall occurred in the first few kilometres and Swiss rider Moerenhout (PHO) was forced to pull out of the race.
11:08202 km on the day!
Just three days after the Amstel Gold Race conquered by Luxemburg’s Franck Schleck (CSC) and a few days before Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the riders will have to cover 202 kilometres on the day going from the city of Charleroi to Huy with the famous final climb up the Mur de Huy.
10:55Flèche Wallonne LIVE
Good morning and welcome to the 70th edition of the Flèche Wallonne. As of 11:05 PM, you’ll be able to follow our live coverage of the race. The official start is due at 11:15 PM for the 194 riders competing in the race.