In the first kilometres, the bunch gaze at each other and climb the first difficulties in one group (Côte de Peu d’Eau, km 38,5 et Côte de Haut-Bois, km 44). The race really evolves approaching the Côte de Thon. A small group tries and attack, but the control its advantage and catch the break away entering Bonneville.
In the women's pack, the Flèche Wallonne meeting has a key importance, linked to the presence on the course of the Mur de Huy that forces the champions to demonstrate their strength in a Grande finale. During the last two editions, the strongest at the top of this unique climb also conquered the World Cup at the end of the year. For the fifth leg, Nicole Cooke, a three-time winner of the Fleche (2003, 2005, 2006), as well as Fabiana Luperini (1998, 2001, 2002), are among the favourites. But title-holder, Marianne Vos, will also be defending her chances. Other than the former winners, she will have to battle it out in the final part against the girls from the High Road Women team with the likes of Judith Arndt, Chantal Beltman and Oenone Wood who have regularly been on the podiums since the start of the season.
25 teams: the main favourites
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GERMANY National Team (GER) : Kupfernagel (All) Nürnberger Versicherung (NUR) : De Goede (All) Team High Road Women (TMP) : Arndt (All), Beltman (Hol), Wood (Aus) AUSTRIA National Team (AUT) : Grünzwell (AUT) BELGIUM National Team (BEL) : Arnouts (Bel) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team (LBL) : Watt (Aus) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson (VLL) : Druyts (Bel) CANADA National Team (CAN) : Wrubleski (Can) SPAIN National Team (ESP) : Iturriagaechevarria (Esp) UNITED STATES National Team (USA) : Powers (Usa) FRANCE National Team (FRA) : Creux (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope (FUT) : Jaunatre (Fra) |
GREAT BRITAIN National Team (GBR) : Cooke, Pooley (Gbr) ITALY National Team (ITA) : Bastianelli (Ita) Gauss RDZ Ormu (GAU) : Martisova (Rus) Menikini - Selle Italia (MSI) : Luperini (Ita) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo (USC) : J.Polikeviciute (Ltu) LITHUANIA National Team (LIT) : Ziliute (Ltu) NETHERLANDS National Team (NED) : Bruins (Hol) AA-Drink Cycling Team (AAD) : Johansson (Sue) Team DSB Bank (DSB) : Vos (Hol) Team Flexpoint (FLX) : Melchers-Van Poppel (Hol) Vrienden Van Het Platteland (VVP) : De Vocht (Bel) SWITZERLAND Bigla Cycling Team (BCT) : Brändli (Sui) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling (RLT) : Armstrong (Usa) |
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26 teams have been invited to compete in the women's Flèche Wallonne, 5th leg of the women's road cycling World Cup. The Elite champions will be battling it out on the 23th of April on a course that will finish like for the men's race with a climb up the tough Mur de Huy.
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AUSTRIA National team (AUT) BELGIUM National team (BEL) Lotto-Belisol Ladies Team (LBL) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson (VLL) CANADA National team (CAN) FRANCE National team (FRA) Vienne Futuroscope (FUT) GERMANY National team (GER) Nürnberger Versicherung (NUR) Team High Road Women (TMP) GREAT-BRITAIN Team Halfords Bikehut (HBH) |
ITALY Gauss RDZ Ormu (GAU) Menikini - Selle Italia (MSI) Safi-Pasta Zara Manhattan (SAF) Titanedi-Frezza Acca Due O (TFA) USC Chirio Forno d'Asolo (USC) LITHUANIA National team (LIT) NETHERLANDS National team (NED) AA-Drink Cycling Team (AAD) Team DSB Bank (DSB) Team Flexpoint (FLX) Vrienden Van Het Platteland (VVP) SPAIN National team (ESP) SWITZERLAND Bigla Cycling Team (BCT) Cervelo Lifeforce Pro Cycling (RLT) UNITED STATES National team (USA) |
Download the press release(1 page, .pdf, 79 ko)
Marianne Vos, world champion, wins the 10th edition of the Fleche Wallonne, just ahead of the triple winner, Nicole Cooke.
Judith Arndt stands on the third step.
