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Huy
195.5 km
Wednesday 22 April
Davide Rebellin (2004, 07 and 09) joins the club of three-time Fl猫che Wallonne winners, Marcel Kint (1942, 43 and 44), Eddy Merckx (1967, 70 and 72) and Moreno Argentin (1990, 91 &nd 94)
1.Davide Rebellin
2. Andy Schleck
3 Damiano Cunego
4. Samuel Sanchez
5. Cadel Evans
Davide Rebellin (Ita-SDA) has won the 73rd edition of the Fl猫che Wallonne, making it four wins on the Ardennes classic for the Italian.
Nicki Sorensen (Den-SAX) attacks, but the big guns are ready to put in the final charge up the Mur de Huy, Cadel Evans (Aus-SIL), Andy Schleck (Lux-SAX) and Damiano Cunego(Ita-LAM) attack.
It is now a matter of seconds before the final attack of the day is launched on the climb up the Mur de Huy.
The peloton has caught the lead group of six and now it will come down to who has the legs for the final run up the Mur de Huy!
The lead group of six riders have a seven second lead from the peloton with 5kms remaining.
With 7kms to go Tralongo (LAM), Krreuzeger (LIQ), Kroon (SAX) have joined the leading trio.
Michele Scarponi (Ita-SDA), Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp-GCE) and Christian Pfanberger (Aut-Kat) are in the lead with 10kms left.
Alexandre Botcharov attacks on the C么te d’Ahin.
Jos茅 Serpa has been caught by the peloton 14kms from the finish line, at the start of the penulitmate climb, the C么te d’Ahin.
Jos茅 Serpa (Col-SDA) has a slim 20 second lead as the race enters the final 20 kms.
Jos茅 Serpa (Col-Sda) has gone on the attack and passed the C么te de Bousalle in the lead with 12 seconds in hand.
Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz-AST) and Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus-Ast) have gone on the attack on the C么te de Bousalle.
Christophe Moreau has been caught at the summit of the C么te de Bohisseau after his ride of 163kms in the lead..
The chase group of 15 riders has been caught by the peloton. Race leader, Christophe Moreau is now 45" ahead with 27 kms to go.
Christophe Moreau now has just a minute in hand from the peloton as the race enters the final 30 kms.
Martin, Monfort (THR), Gasparotto (LAM) Pereiro Sio (GCE), Martintez (EUS), Bazayev, Muravyev (AST), Fugslang, Sorensen (SAX), Roche (ALM), Seeldrayers (QST), Duque (COF), Wegmann (MRM) Gautier, Rolland (BBO), are the chase group with Moreau’s lead now at 1’15" with 33kms left.
Assan Bazayev (Kaz-AST) leads the chase group of 16 riders chasing leader, Christophe Moreau, who is now on the C么te de Bonneville.
A group of 16 riders are now 1’45" behind Moreau.
Defending Fl猫che Wallonne title holder Kim Kirchen (Lux-THR) is trailing at the rear of the peloton.
Chris Sorensen (Lux-SAX) is leading an attck on the C么te de Thon. With 42kms before the finish, Christophe Moreau’s lead is down to 2’25".
Last year’s Fl猫che Wallonne runner-up, Cadel Evans (Aus-SIL) is currently riding at the back of the field.
Christophe Moreau’s lead is down to 4’20" with 50kms to go.
With 55kms to go, Fumiyuki Beppu has been cuaght by the field.
Christophe Moreau is on the C么te de Peu d’Eau climb, 58 kms from the finish line and is maintaing his lead of 6’10" form the peloton.
Japanese rider Fumiyuki Beppu is now 3’50" adrift from leader Christophe Moreau.
Dutch rider, Marianne Was won her third consecutive Fl猫che Wallonne.
Christophe Moreau’s lead is down to 7 minutes with 65kms remaining.
Christophe Moreau (Fra-AGR) has put 2’’00" on second place Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap-SKS), while the peloton continues to chip away and is now at 7’22" with 70kms to go
With 78kms remaining, Christophe Moreau is pulling away from Fumiyuki Beppu, while the peloton, is now just under 9 minutes back.
The peloton continues to reduce the gap to leaders Moreau and Beeppu; their advatnage is 10’20" with 92kms to go.
The peloton has crossed the finish line, at the summit of the Mur de Huy, for the second time with an 11’ 25" deficit to the leading duo of Moreau and Beppu.
After putting 22 seconds on Beppu, Moreau waited for teh Japanese rider and the two leaders are now riding together.
Christophe Moreau has dropped Fumiyuki Beppu on the second pass of the Mur de Huy. The Frenchman passed the summit 22 seconds ahead of the Japanese rider.
Leaders Christophe Moreau (Fra-AGR) and Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap-SKS) are nearing the second pass of the Mur de Huy.with a lead of 12’35".
Christophe Moreau has passed the second difficulty of the day, the C么te d’Ereffe ahead of Fumiyuki Beppu.
Leaders Christophe Moreau and Fumiyuki Beppu have a 13’55" lead from the pack as they begin the second difficulty of the day, the C么te d’Ereffe.
As the peloton passes the summit of the Mur de Huy, the gap to the leaders is now at 14’45"
The Peloton led by the Lampre, Saxo Bank, Silence-Lotto and Caisse d’Epargne formations are beginning to pick up the pace as the climb of the Mur de Huy is within one kilometre.
Christophe Moreau has passed the summit of the ’Mur de Huy’ ahead of Fumiyuki Beppu. The gap back to the peloton has stabilized at 15’30".
Leaders Christophe Moreau and Fumiyuki Beppu are making their first pass of three on the ’Mur de Huy’.
Moreau and Beppu are at kilometre 61 and are nearing the first pass of the ’Mur de Huy’
The peloton has reached km 46 and continues to let the Moreau and Beppu increase their lead, which is now at 15’20".
Leaders Christophe Moreau (Fra-AGR) and Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap-SKS) have completed the first 50 kilometres of the race and have a gap of more than 14 minutes and 10kms to the peloton.
The 198 riders are enjoying pleasent conditions with a current temperature of 14 Celsius and, more importantly, no wind to speak of.
The peloton continues to let leaders, Christophe Moreau and Fumiyuki Beppu pull away. After 32.5kms their lead is now at 11 minutes.
Silence Lotto sporting director, Dirk De Wolf isn鈥檛 counting out another top performance from team leader Cadel Evans, who wowed the fans on the Huy Wall climb in 2008, before ceding to Kim Kirchen in the final 100 metres: 鈥淐adel is presently in good shape, he is just as strong as this time last year. Additionally, the weather forecast is encouraging with an expected temperature of 20掳 Celsius. We have a very deep team, with Gilbert, Dekker and De Greef. I think he will employ the same tactics as last year and, if he can, ride off the back wheel of his team mates just a bit longer, before accelerating. In these conditions, it is feasible for him to go for a strong result, 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th? It is always the same question!鈥
Moreau and Beppu now lead by a sizeable 7’25" after the first 34 kilometres.
The morning breakaway of Moreau and Beppu is now at 6’20"
Christophe Moreau and Beppu Fumiyuki continue to increase their lead and are now four minutes clear of the peloton.
Christophe Moreau (Fra-AGR) and Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap-SKS) have incresaed the gap from the peloton to a full 2 minutes after 20 kilometres.
Interviewed by letour.com, Skil-Shimano sporting director, Merlijn Zeeman said he鈥檚 counting on French rider Jonathan Hivert to attack on the final climb, the 鈥楳ur de Huy鈥: 鈥淗e will be our protected rider for the finale. We want to get one of our riders in the break away and if team work must be aggressive, Jonathan will still be able to conserve his energy. We are here in this region for a training period and he really likes the 鈥楳ur de Huy鈥. The very steep climbs like the ones here are his specialty. He was ill for 10 days and we鈥檒l have to see how he feels during the race.鈥
Christophe Mareau (Fra-AGR) and Fumiyuki Beppu (Jap-SKS) have increased their advantage over the peloton to 50 seconds at the 17 km mark.
Christophe Moreau’s morning break away is a repeat of his attmept in 2006 when he escaped in the company of Christophe LeM猫vel and Joos Posthuma. They were soon caught up by the peleton.
Columbia High Road Sporting Director, Val茅rio Piva stated that 2008 Fl茅che Wallone winner Kim Kirchen is still working his way back to form following his broken clavicle 鈥淜im is feeling better, but still needs more miles on the road. He isn鈥檛 yet on form to race for the win, but if he feels strong on the last climb he will try, but he鈥檚 not really in contention for the win.鈥 鈥淜im will continue to work on conditioning in the upcoming races to be ready for the Tour de France.鈥 But Piva is more optimistic about the chance of Swedish rider Thomas L枚vkvist. 鈥淭homas is on form, he has put in some strong finishes on the last few races ending with long climbs and he鈥檒l be looking to be at the sharp end of the order.鈥
Christophe Moreau and Fumiyuki Beppu (SKS) have left the peloton 20 seconds behind at kilometre 8.
Christophe Moreau has been reeled in by the peleton at the 6 kilometre mark.
The first rider to break away from the filed, Preben Van Hecke, has been absorbed by the peleton, while Moreau continues to push.
Christophe Moreau (AGR) has counter attacked leader Van Hecke.
Belgian rider Preben Van Hecke (TSV) has put in the first attack of the morning at km0, he know has a 25’ lead from the peleton.
The field arrived at kilometre 0 at 11:34. All 198 riders have logged in and are on the road.
The field is currently riding in group formation from the false start to the actual start through the streets of Charleroi.
The field is currently riding in group formation from the false start to the actual start through the streets of Charleroi.
The field is currently riding in group formation from the false start to the actual start through the streets of Charleroi.
The sports pages of Sud Presse featured the favourites for the win on the Fl猫che Wallon and in particular Belgium鈥檚 strongest hope, Philippe Gimbert, after his fourth place finish on the Amstel Gold Race last Sunday. 鈥淚 know I can be very fast and strong on the steep climbs like the Alsemberg (Fl猫che Braban莽onne), the Cauberg (Amstel) or the ascensions on the Tour de Flandres. But the Mur de Huy is an entirely different story, where a ten metre gap is very, very hard to make up. We don鈥檛 sprint, we climb and that changes everything鈥, said the Silence-Lotto rider.
The riders will begin the day at 11:20 with the actual start of the 195.5km 73rd edition of the Fl猫che Wallonne at 11:30.
