Alejandro Valverde will return to his playground in the south of Belgium, trying to win a fourth straight Fleche Wallonne, finishing on the famous Mur de Huy. Join The Roar for live coverage from 9:40pm (AEST).
Valverde came up short at the Amstel Gold race last weekend, but he has always been strong on the Mur de Huy, winning the last three editions of the race.
While the Mur de Huy is the key attraction, with the finishing climb appearing three times and being 1.3 kilometres at 9.6 per cent, along with a stretch in double digits – there is plenty of other climbing en route.
Setting out in Binche, the first 130 kilometres have no categorised climbs, which should allow a breakaway to establish a handy lead.
If one does get clear within the first 100 kilometres though, they will need a significant advantage before the peloton start jostling for position ahead of the climbs.
Once the climbing starts, they come thick and fast, with nine in 73 kilometres – and the final seven on the finishing circuit.
Before they get there, it will be the Côte d’Amay and the Cote de Villers-le-Bouillet. The Mur will be next, before they do two full laps of the circuit, which is lumpy all the way and includes the Côte d’Ereffe (2.1km at five per cent) and Côte de Cherave (1.3km at 8.1 per cent).
When you consider all three of those climbs will be raced within 16.5 kilometres of each other, the challenge presented is very real.
Interestingly, Amstel Gold winner Philippe Gilbert won’t be racing, although is expected on Sunday in Leige-Bastogne-Leige.
It opens the field up, with Michal Kwiatkowski looking to capitalise on good form from the cobble races and a second at Amstel, while Michael Albasini will also be looking to back up his Amstel podium finish.
Daniel Martin and Roman Kreuziger, both of whom have had strong results in the past, will be looking to put the Amstel Gold behind them, while French rocket Romain Bardet is one to watch.
Ion Izzaguire could land Bahrain-Merida’s first big win, while Tim Wellens has also been displaying strong form. Others to keep an eye on include Samuel Sanches, Warren Barguil, Rafal Majka and the crafty Portuguese rider Rui Costa.
Prediction
While Valverde ran out of luck in the Netherlands, he has won all three multi-stage races he has entered so far this year and is a special for the victory here.
Expect the Spaniard to take it for Movistar, ahead of Michal Kwiatkowski and Daniel Martin
Join The Roar for live coverage of la Fleche Wallonne from 9:50pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this evening for our live coverage of the 2017 Spring Classics as Alejandro Valverde took out La Fleche Wallonne. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. The Roar will be back on Sunday with Leige-Bastogne-Leige, before we take you through the Giro d'Italia starting on May 5. Goodnight.
Scott Pryde
Expert
TOP 10 1. Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) 2. Dan Martin (Quick-Step Floors) 3. Dylan Teuns (BMC) 4. Sergio Henao (Sky) 5. Michael Albasini (Orica-Scott) 6. Warren Barguil (Sunweb) 7. Michal Kwiatkowski (Sky) 8. Rudy Molard (FDJ) 9. David Gaudu (FDJ) 10. Diego Ulissi (Team Emirates)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Dylan Teuns has been awarded third position over Sergio Henao. Full results to come. Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Just an excellent ride from Valverde. He just waited, then followed and mounted his own attack. There is no question he still has all the tricks.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Theuns and Sergio Henao tried to follow Valverde there, but had absolutely no chance. Looks like Albasini came up the right hand side of the road, but it might have been Martin taking second. It was in fact. Martin second, and it'll be a photo for third between Teuns and Henao, with Albasini grabbing 5th.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Forget about it! Valverde takes four straight on the Mur! What an attack from Valverde. Looked like he was riding on a different road to everyone else as he went straight around Gaudu, leaving everyone in his wake. No one even got close in the end, with the gap opening quickly allowing Valverde to take it easy across the line. What a victory. What a rider.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Romain Bardet trying to get up the fence on the left hand side now, but he is blocked in and can't find a way around. Valverde still riding on the front and then it's the FDJ rider David Gaudu going. Valverde into the wheel and he makes his own move now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Back together and it's still Sky doing the work on the front, but Valverde getting ready to pounce. Everyone watching the three time champion and they are going to lose marking him here Valverde happy to simply ride a hard tempo on the front for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sky back to the front through Diego Rosa who has Kwiatkowski in his heel. Valverde just behind him as well while Henao is also coming through, as well as Wellens. Jungels now running out of gas and he is going to be caught with about 800 metres to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The speed difference between the two group is evident here. 1km to go and Jungels has 20 seconds.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jungels giving it everything here as he takes on the left hander and enters the Mur de Huy for the final time. Movistar approaching it and they have taken back control of the peloton to lead them on. Cannondale and Sunweb both fighting.
Scott Pryde
Expert
And now here come Cannondale Drapac to the front on the left hand side of the road. Orica shut them down and grab control once again. Very small peloton of maybe 30 or 40 riders heading to the line here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Riders all over the road here, trying to get to the front. Michael Matthews on the back of a Sunweb train that is now coming to the front.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Looks like the referees are moving just about everything out of the gap now, which is fair enough ahead of the Huy. 25 seconds, 3km.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jungels working hard for every single second here, but the gap is coming down no as they continue towards the Mur. He turns right and will come along the river, with the gap down to 25 seconds. 3.6km to go.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Majka, Albasini, Henao and Valverde lead the peloton onto the downhill still about 30 seconds down. They don't look all that stressed at this point it must be said.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jungels over the top of the climb now and about 3.5km away from the start of the Mur de Huy. Its a very fast downhill, and he needs to grab a few seconds back before we head back uphill.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Jungels might be just starting to crack a little bit here - gap comes down to 30 seconds as Sky take control of the peloton once more.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Rafal Majka now putting on a move as we climb up the second to final climb. Straight into the wheel if Moscon, who you might remember as a top five finisher at Paris-Roubaix. Plenty of riders starting to jump across as well.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Here comes the catch of De Marchi, with the peloton under the control of Sky but it's not him they need to catch. Jungels, the Luxeombergur still about 52 seconds up the road.