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Just days before the Flèche Wallonne, the current champion has announced she will not be racing due to a clavicle fracture which will keep her away from the starting line.

The women's race is becoming more and more similar to the men's. After Cadel Evans pulled out from the race, it is now Emma Pooley's turn to withdraw. The British rider also sustained a bad fall while training near her Swiss home. She fractured her collarbone and will be unable to race for at least two to three weeks. Pooley had already taken the Alfredo Binda Trophy this year and was favoured to defend her title atop the Mur de Huy. Her streak has been broken by this accident, which also removed a serious contender for the win. Marianne Vos, Emma Johansson, Nicole Cooke, Martine Bras and Judith Arndt are now one step closer to victory.

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The climb up the Mur de Huy has become one of the key moments of the women’s calendar.

Its slopes are no less steep than they are for men, and the battle fought there will be just as fierce. The first one to reach the top will claim a victory which counts for the UCI World Cup (4th round). There is much at stake, especially taking into account that the winner will come out of this prestigious fixture with the psychological high ground over all her rivals. Frequent visitors to the podium of the Flèche Wallonne are coming back for more this year. Current world ranking leader Marianne Vos is targeting a fourth win in Huy after her victorious streak was ended by Emma Pooley (GBR) in 2010, but Emma Johansson (SWE), Judith Arndt (GER) and Nicole Cooke (GBR) are also to be reckoned with.

26 teams, main contenders (as of 12th April, 2011)

 
Germany
National team: Kasper (GER)
Abus Nutrixxion (NXX): Lindberg (SWE)

Australia
National team: Corset (AUS)

Belgium
Lotto Honda Team (LHT): Gilmore (AUS)
Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team (VLL): Verbeke (BEL)

United States
National team: Starnes (USA)
HTC-Highroad Women (TCW): Arndt, Becker (GER)
Diadora - Pasta Zara (DPZ): Zabelinskaya (RUS), Olds (USA)
Tibco - To the Top (TIB): Numainville (CAN)

France
National team: Biannic, Lesueur (FRA)
Vienne Futuroscope (FUT): Pitel (FRA)

Great Britain
Garmin - Cervélo (CWT): Pooley (GBR)

Italy
Colavita Forno d’Asolo (FCL): D’Ettorre (ITA)
SC Mcipollini Giordana (MCG): Cooke (GBR)
Gauss (GAU): Antoshina (RUS)
Vaiano SolarisTech (VAI): Lelivyte (LTU)
SC Michela Fanini Rox (MIC): Jasinska (POL)
Kleo Ladies Team (KLT): Graus (AUT)
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo (TOG): Berlato (ITA)

Norway
Hitec Products UCK (HPU): Johansson (SWE)

Netherlands
National team: Bruins (NET)
AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team (LNL): Wild (NET)
Dolmans Landscaping Team (DLT): Bras (NET)
Nederland Bloeit (ARC): Vos, Van Vleuten (NET)

Russia
National team: line-up to be communicated

Sweden
Alriksson GoGreen (AGG): Söderberg (SWE)

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25 teams have been selected for the 14th Flèche Wallonne Femmes edition, which will take place on Wednesday 20st of April.

Australia
National Team

Belgium
Lotto Honda Team (LHT)
Topsport Vlaanderen 2012 - Ridley Team (VLL)

France
National Team
Vienne Futuroscope (FUT)

Germany
National Team
Abus Nutrixxion (NXX)

Great-Britain
Garmin - Cervélo (CWT)

Italy
Colavita Forno d’Asolo (FCL)
SC Mcipollini Giordana (MCG)
Gauss (GAU)
Vaiano SolarisTech (VAI)
SC Michela Fanini Rox (MIC)
Kleo Ladies Team (KLT)
Top Girls Fassa Bortolo (TOG)

Nederland’s
National Team
AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team (LNL)
Dolmans Landscaping Team (DLT)
Nederland Bloeit (ARC)

Norway
Hitec Products UCK (HPU)

Sweden
Alriksson GoGreen (AGG)

USA
National Team
HTC Highroad Women (TCW)
Diadora - Pasta Zara (DPZ)
Tibco - To the Top (TIB)

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British rider Emma Pooley has won the 13th edition of the Flèche Wallonne.

She beat her countrywomen Nicole Cooke and Sweden’s Emma Johansson. Marianne Vos, sixth at the top of the Wall of Huy, still leads the World Cup rankings.

Race 2010

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