2023 La Flèche Wallonne (World Tour), Belgium

87th edition: Wednesday, April 19, 2023

La Flèche Wallonne podium history | 2022 edition | 2024 edition | Course map & profile | Start list

Herve - Huy, 194.2 km

Tadej Pogacar has won another big one. Getty photo

Notable ascents:

• Km 30.3: Côte de Trasenster, 3.3 km @ 4.9% gradient
• Km 39: Côte des Forges, 1.3 km @ 7.8%
• Km 101.3: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
• Km 114.1: Côte de Cherave, 1.3 km @ 8.1%
• Km 119.8: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
• Km 138.6: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
• Km 151.4: Côte de Cherave, 1.3 km @ 8.1%
• Km 157.1: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
• Km 175.8: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
• Km 188.6: Côte de Cherave, 1.3 km @ 8.1%
• Km 194.2: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%

Les Woodland's book Tour of Flanders: The Inside Story - The rocky roads of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is available in print, Kindle eBook and audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

Weather at the finish city of Huy at 1:35 pm, local time: 14C (58F), mostly cloudy, with the wind from the northeast at 21 km/hr (13 mph). No rain is forecast.

The race: Two riders did not start: Benoit Cosnfroy - Bronchitis (Ag2r-Citroen) & Jai Hindley - respiratory tract infection (Bora-hanagrohe). 85 kilometers into the stage Gianni Moscon (Astana Qazaqstan) abandoned.

Here's the race organizer's report:

No dice. Every conversation ahead of the 2023 Flèche Wallonne revolved around who and how could prevent Tadej Pogacar from triumphing atop the Mur de Huy. In the end, no one could. UAE Team Emirates kept the race on a tight leash all the way to the final climb, where its Slovenian leader unfurled yet another lethal acceleration to get his first win in this Classic – the 12th victory in his history-making season. Matthias Skjelmose (Trek-Segafredo) and Mikel Landa (Bahrain Victorious) stood with him on the podium after crossing the finish line in second and third position.

173 riders took the start at 11:51 on the 87th edition of the Flèche Wallonne, that was held over 194,2 kilometres between Herve and the Mur de Huy. There were two non-starters, Benoît Cosnefroy (Ag2r-Citröen) and Jai Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe), both sick. It took 16 kilometres until an 8-man breakaway was established at the head of the race with Jacob Hindsgaul Madsen (Uno-X), Daryl Impey (Israel-Premier Tech), Lawrence Naesen (AG2R-Citroen), Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche-Circus-Wanty), Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Raul Garcia Pierna (Kern Pharma), Johan Meens (Bingoal WB) and Jetse Bol (Burgos BH).

Tight control
Tadej Pogacar’s UAE Team Emirates and Tom Pidcock’s Ineos Grenadiers took turns at the head of the peloton to control the gap of the breakaway, which amounted up to 3’50” at kilometer 64. The distance was not worrying for the bunch, though, as it narrowed the gap on every climb. By the first time the race hit the Mur de Huy (km 119,8), the lead was down to 1’15” and Naesen had been dropped from the front group.

The peloton has entered the final circuit, led by the teammates of Tom Pidcock and Tadej Pogacar. ASO photo

Unrewarded attacks
The race situation only changed when the breakaway hit the Côte d’Ereffe (km 138,6) for the second time. Kragh Andersen accelerated at the front and Zimmermann was the only one who could match his pace. At the time of cresting the Mur de Huy (km 157,1) for a last passage through the finish line, they kept a 57” advantage over a peloton where Samuele Battistella (Astana Qazaqstan) launched an attack that was later echoed by Louis Vervaeke (Soudal-Quick Step). The newly-formed chasing duo joined the two riders at the head of the race with 31 kilometres to go. The menace of crosswinds prompted the bunch to speed up, and the gap between the front group and the pack was down to 25” with 25 kilometres left.

Vervaeke, last man standing
The climb to the Côte d’Ereffe (km 175,8) saw Zimmermann lose ground to the breakaway, while UAE kept pulling for a steady gap of 30”. Vervaeke took off solo in the last Côte de Cherave (km 188,6), reaching its summit with a mere 12” advantage on a bunch where Pogacar’s team kept speeding up. Clutch time came with the Mur de Huy, as the lone leader was caught right under the red kite signaling one kilometer to go. All favorites bid their time in the slopes of Huy. Romain Bardet (Team DSM) was the first to attack with just 250 meters left, yet he was quickly overtaken by Pogacar, who claimed an excellent victory by a comfortable margin.

Tadej Pogacar goes. Sirotti photo

At the moment Tadej Pogacar is the man with the muscle. Sirotti photo

The podium, from left: Mattias Skjelmose Jensen (2nd), Tadej Pogacar (1st) & Mikel Landa (3rd)

Cycling legend Bernard Thevenet hands the trophy to Pogacar.

 

Complete Results:

194.2 kilometers raced at an average speed of 43.497 km/hr

1	TADEJ POGAČAR	UAE TEAM EMIRATES	4hr 27min 53sec
2	MATTIAS SKJELMOSE JENSEN	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
3	MIKEL LANDA	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS	s.t.
4	MICHAEL WOODS	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	@ 3sec
5	GIULIO CICCONE	TREK-SEGAFREDO	s.t.
6	VICTOR LAFAY	COFIDIS	s.t.
7	TIESJ BENOOT	JUMBO-VISMA	s.t.
8	MAXIM VAN GILS	LOTTO DSTNY	s.t.
9	ROMAIN BARDET	TEAM DSM	s.t.
10	WARREN BARGUIL	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	s.t.
11	ATTILA VALTER	JUMBO-VISMA	s.t.
12	ROGER ADRIA	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA	0' 09''
13	ALEX ARANBURU	MOVISTAR TEAM	0' 10''
14	ILAN VAN WILDER	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	s.t.
15	TOBIAS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	s.t.
16	MAURO SCHMID	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	0' 14''
17	ENRIC MAS	MOVISTAR TEAM	s.t.
18	THOMAS PIDCOCK	INEOS GRENADIERS	s.t.
19	QUINTEN HERMANS	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	s.t.
20	JHOAN ESTEBAN CHAVES	EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST	s.t.
21	MATTEO SOBRERO	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	s.t.
22	LENNERT VAN EETVELT	LOTTO DSTNY	s.t.
23	MATEJ MOHORIC	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS	s.t.
24	VALENTIN MADOUAS	GROUPAMA-FDJ	s.t.
25	KOBE GOOSSENS	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	s.t.
26	ROBERT STANNARD	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	s.t.
27	ION IZAGUIRRE	COFIDIS	s.t.
28	MATHIEU BURGAUDEAU	TOTALENERGIES	0' 15''
29	ALEX BAUDIN	AG2R CITROEN TEAM	0' 22''
30	RUBEN ALMEIDA	MOVISTAR TEAM	s.t.
31	JESUS HERRADA	COFIDIS	s.t.
32	BEN HEALY	EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST	s.t.
33	LORENZO ROTA	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	0' 25''
34	GINO MÄDER	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS	s.t.
35	VICTOR LANGELLOTTI	BURGOS-BH	0' 28''
36	GUILLAUME MARTIN	COFIDIS	s.t.
37	RUDY MOLARD	GROUPAMA-FDJ	s.t.
38	ANDREA BAGIOLI	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	s.t.
39	MATTHEW DINHAM	TEAM DSM	s.t.
40	JAMES KNOX	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	s.t.
41	JASON OSBORNE	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	0' 32''
42	EDGAR OSCAR	TEAM DSM	0' 34''
43	MIKAEL CHEREL	AG2R CITROEN TEAM	0' 37''
44	ANDER OKAMIKA	BURGOS-BH	s.t.
45	JUAN PEDRO LOPEZ	TREK-SEGAFREDO	0' 40''
46	QUENTIN PACHER	GROUPAMA-FDJ	s.t.
47	WOUTER POELS	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS	0' 42''
48	LOUIS BARRE	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	s.t.
49	ALEXEY LUTSENKO	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM	s.t.
50	SYLVAIN MONIQUET	LOTTO DSTNY	0' 50''
51	VALENTIN FERRON	TOTALENERGIES	0' 51''
52	GONZALO SERRANO	MOVISTAR TEAM	s.t.
53	LAWRENCE WARBASSE	AG2R CITROEN TEAM	s.t.
54	PAU MIQUEL DELGADO	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA	0' 56''
55	TSGABU GRMAY	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	s.t.
56	ALEXANDRE BALMER	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	0' 59''
57	PIETER SERRY	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	1' 03''
58	MAGNUS SHEFFIELD	INEOS GRENADIERS	1' 05''
59	SAM OOMEN	JUMBO-VISMA	1' 07''
60	GREGAARD JONAS WILSLY	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	1' 10''
61	ALAN JOUSSEAUME	TOTALENERGIES	1' 22''
62	BAUKE MOLLEMA	TREK-SEGAFREDO	1' 32''
63	JONATHAN LASTRA	COFIDIS	1' 37''
64	PELAYO SANCHEZ	BURGOS-BH	1' 42''
65	PAUL OURSELIN	TOTALENERGIES	s.t.
66	LUCA VAN BOVEN	BINGOAL WB	s.t.
67	NICO DENZ	BORA-HANSGROHE	s.t.
68	THOMAS BONNET	TOTALENERGIES	1' 48''
69	CLÉMENT CHAMPOUSSIN	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	1' 51''
70	LENNERT TEUGELS	BINGOAL WB	1' 52''
71	DIEGO ULISSI	UAE TEAM EMIRATES	2' 03''
72	SIMON GUGLIELMI	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	s.t.
73	LARS VAN DEN BERG	GROUPAMA-FDJ	s.t.
74	LOUIS VERVAEKE	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	s.t.
75	MARCO TIZZA	BINGOAL WB	s.t.
76	DAVID DE LA CRUZ	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM	2' 11''
77	SERGIO ANDRES HIGUITA	BORA-HANSGROHE	s.t.
78	BASTIEN TRONCHON	AG2R CITROEN TEAM	s.t.
79	SIMONE VELASCO	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM	s.t.
80	MARC HIRSCHI	UAE TEAM EMIRATES	2' 17''
81	SØREN KRAGH ANDERSEN	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	2' 22''
82	SIMON CLARKE	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	2' 27''
83	OMAR FRAILE MATARRANZ	INEOS GRENADIERS	2' 31''
84	JOSE HERRADA	COFIDIS	s.t.
85	GORKA IZAGIRRE	MOVISTAR TEAM	s.t.
86	JAN MAAS	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	2' 34''
87	LILIAN CALMEJANE	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	s.t.
88	FRANCISCO GALVAN	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA	s.t.
89	JORGE ARCAS	MOVISTAR TEAM	2' 39''
90	JOS VAN EMDEN	JUMBO-VISMA	s.t.
91	PELLO BILBAO LOPEZ	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS	s.t.
92	GIOVANNI ALEOTTI	BORA-HANSGROHE	s.t.
93	REMY MERTZ	BINGOAL WB	s.t.
94	TONY GALLOPIN	TREK-SEGAFREDO	2' 44''
95	ANTHONY DELAPLACE	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	s.t.
96	DANNY VAN DER TUUK	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA	2' 51''
97	FELIX ENGELHARDT	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	2' 56''
98	ALEXIS GUERIN	BINGOAL WB	3' 03''
99	TOSH VAN DER SANDE	JUMBO-VISMA	3' 07''
100	MATHIJS PAASSCHENS	LOTTO DSTNY	3' 40''
101	ANDREAS LORENTZ KRON	LOTTO DSTNY	3' 42''
102	DRIES DEVENYNS	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP	3' 49''
103	ANTHONY PEREZ	COFIDIS	3' 58''
104	ANTHON CHARMIG	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	s.t.
105	SAMUELE BATTISTELLA	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM	4' 28''
106	LUKASZ OWSIAN	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	5' 46''
107	MATHIS LE BERRE	TEAM ARKEA-SAMSIC	5' 49''
108	MARTIN URIANSTAD	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	6' 39''
109	ANDREA PICCOLO	EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST	s.t.
110	NICHOLAS SCHULTZ	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	s.t.
111	ROMAIN COMBAUD	TEAM DSM	s.t.
112	GEORGE BENNETT	UAE TEAM EMIRATES	s.t.
113	G LAWSON CRADDOCK	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	s.t.
114	SEAN QUINN	EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST	s.t.
115	MICHAL KWIATKOWSKI	INEOS GRENADIERS	s.t.
116	GEORG ZIMMERMANN	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	6' 42''
117	BEN ZWIEHOFF	BORA-HANSGROHE	6' 51''
118	MICHAEL SCHÄR	AG2R CITROEN TEAM	s.t.
119	FELIX GROSSSCHARTNER	UAE TEAM EMIRATES	s.t.
120	DION SMITH	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	8' 04''
121	PASCAL EENKHOORN	LOTTO DSTNY	s.t.
122	GIJS LEEMREIZE	JUMBO-VISMA	s.t.
123	HARRISON SWEENY	LOTTO DSTNY	s.t.
124	KÉVIN GENIETS	GROUPAMA-FDJ	s.t.
125	TOBIAS BAYER	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	9' 13''
126	CRISTIAN SCARONI	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM	s.t.
127	JOSÉ ROJAS	MOVISTAR TEAM	s.t.
128	JACOB MADSEN	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	10' 46''
129	DARYL IMPEY	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	10' 56''
130	FABIEN GRELLIER	TOTALENERGIES	s.t.
131	GUILLAUME BOIVIN	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	s.t.
132	JOSE MANUEL DIAZ	BURGOS-BH	s.t.
133	FREDRIK DVERSNES	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	s.t.
134	CONNOR SWIFT	INEOS GRENADIERS	s.t.
135	ANDREY AMADOR	EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST	s.t.
136	PATRICK GAMPER	BORA-HANSGROHE	s.t.
137	FABIO VAN DEN BOSSCHE	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK	11' 03''
138	KEVIN COLLEONI	TEAM JAYCO ALULA	11' 12''
139	KRISTS NEILANDS	ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH	11' 19''
140	TOM PAQUOT	INTERMARCHÉ-CIRCUS-WANTY	11' 52''
141	JETSE BOL	BURGOS-BH	12' 43''
142	CLEMENT ALLENO	BURGOS-BH	s.t.
143	RAUL GARCIA PIERNA	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA	13' 58''
144	JOHAN MEENS	BINGOAL WB	s.t.
145	MATTEO VERCHER	TOTALENERGIES	s.t.
146	ANDERS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM	14' 12''
147	LEON HEINSCHKE	TEAM DSM	s.t.

 

Course map and profile:

2023 Flèche Wallonne map

2023 Flèche Wallonne profile

 

 

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Start list with back numbers, April 18, 2023:

	ISRAEL - PREMIER TECH
1	MICHAEL WOODS
2	GUILLAUME BOIVIN
3	SIMON CLARKE
4	HUGO HOULE
5	DARYL IMPEY
6	KRISTS NEILANDS
7	NICHOLAS SCHULTZ
	MOVISTAR TEAM
11	ENRIC MAS NICOLAU
12	RUBEN ALMEIDA GUERREIRO
13	ALEX ARANBURU DEBA
14	JORGE ARCAS
15	GORKA IZAGIRRE INSAUSTI
16	JOSÉ ROJAS
17	GONZALO SERRANO RODRIGUEZ
	BORA - HANSGROHE
21	SERGIO ANDRES HIGUITA GARCIA
22	GIOVANNI ALEOTTI
23	NICO DENZ
24	PATRICK GAMPER
25	JAI HINDLEY
26	IDE SCHELLING
27	BEN ZWIEHOFF
	SOUDAL QUICK-STEP
31	ANDREA BAGIOLI
32	DRIES DEVENYNS
33	JAMES KNOX
34	MAURO SCHMID
35	PIETER SERRY
36	ILAN VAN WILDER
37	LOUIS VERVAEKE
	LOTTO DSTNY
41	MAXIM VAN GILS
42	PASCAL EENKHOORN
43	ANDREAS LORENTZ KRON
44	SYLVAIN MONIQUET
45	MATHIJS PAASSCHENS
46	HARRISON SWEENY
47	LENNERT VAN EETVELT
	INEOS GRENADIERS
51	THOMAS PIDCOCK
52	OMAR FRAILE MATARRANZ
53	MICHAL KWIATKOWSKI
54	MAGNUS SHEFFIELD
55	CONNOR SWIFT
56	MICHAEL JOSHUA TARLING
57	CAMERON WURF
	BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
61	MIKEL LANDA MEANA
62	PELLO BILBAO LOPEZ DE ARMENTIA
63	FILIP MACIEJUK
64	GINO MÄDER
65	FRAN MIHOLJEVIĆ
66	MATEJ MOHORIC
67	WOUTER POELS
	EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST
71	BEN HEALY
72	ANDREY AMADOR
73	JHOAN ESTEBAN CHAVES RUBIO
74	ANDREA PICCOLO
75	NEILSON POWLESS
76	SEAN QUINN
77	JAMES SHAW
	GROUPAMA - FDJ
81	DAVID GAUDU
82	KÉVIN GENIETS
83	MATTHIEU LADAGNOUS
84	VALENTIN MADOUAS
85	RUDY MOLARD
86	QUENTIN PACHER
87	LARS VAN DEN BERG
	TEAM ARKEA - SAMSIC
91	WARREN BARGUIL
92	LOUIS BARRE
93	CLÉMENT CHAMPOUSSIN
94	ANTHONY DELAPLACE
95	SIMON GUGLIELMI
96	MATHIS LE BERRE
97	LUKASZ OWSIAN
	TOTALENERGIES
101	FABIEN GRELLIER
102	THOMAS BONNET
103	MATHIEU BURGAUDEAU
104	VALENTIN FERRON
105	ALAN JOUSSEAUME
106	PAUL OURSELIN
107	MATTEO VERCHER
	JUMBO-VISMA
111	TIESJ BENOOT
112	LENNARD HOFSTEDE
113	GIJS LEEMREIZE
114	SAM OOMEN
115	ATTILA VALTER
116	TOSH VAN DER SANDE
117	JOS VAN EMDEN
	UAE TEAM EMIRATES
121	TADEJ POGAČAR
122	GEORGE BENNETT
123	FELIX GROSSSCHARTNER
124	MARC HIRSCHI
125	VEGARD STAKE LAENGEN
126	DIEGO ULISSI
127	MICHAEL VINK
	AG2R CITROEN TEAM
131	BENOIT COSNEFROY
132	ALEX BAUDIN
133	MIKAEL CHEREL
134	LAWRENCE NAESEN
135	MICHAEL SCHÄR
136	BASTIEN TRONCHON
137	LAWRENCE WARBASSE
	TEAM JAYCO ALULA
141	G LAWSON CRADDOCK
142	ALEXANDRE BALMER
143	KEVIN COLLEONI
144	FELIX ENGELHARDT
145	TSGABU GEBREMARYAM GRMAY
146	JAN MAAS
147	MATTEO SOBRERO
	INTERMARCHÉ - CIRCUS - WANTY
151	LILIAN CALMEJANE
152	DRIES DE POOTER
153	KOBE GOOSSENS
154	TOM PAQUOT
155	LORENZO ROTA
156	DION SMITH
157	GEORG ZIMMERMANN
	COFIDIS
161	JESUS HERRADA
162	JOSE HERRADA
163	ION IZAGUIRRE INSAUSTI
164	VICTOR LAFAY
165	JONATHAN LASTRA MARTINEZ
166	GUILLAUME MARTIN GUYONNET
167	ANTHONY PEREZ
	TREK - SEGAFREDO
171	GIULIO CICCONE
172	JULIEN BERNARD
173	TONY GALLOPIN
174	MARKUS HOELGAARD
175	SKJELMOSE MATTIAS JENSEN
176	JUAN PEDRO LOPEZ PEREZ
177	BAUKE MOLLEMA
	UNO-X PRO CYCLING TEAM
181	TOBIAS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN
182	MARTIN URIANSTAD BUGGE
183	ANTHON CHARMIG
184	FREDRIK DVERSNES
185	ANDERS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN
186	HINDSGAUL JACOB MADSEN
187	GREGAARD JONAS WILSLY
	ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM
191	ALEXEY LUTSENKO
192	SAMUELE BATTISTELLA
193	DAVID DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO
194	GIANNI MOSCON
195	ALEKSANDR RIABUSHENKO
196	CRISTIAN SCARONI
197	SIMONE VELASCO
	TEAM DSM
201	ROMAIN BARDET
202	ROMAIN COMBAUD
203	MATTHEW DINHAM
204	SEAN FLYNN
205	LEON HEINSCHKE
206	TIM NABERMAN
207	EDGAR OSCAR ONLEY
	ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK
211	QUINTEN HERMANS
212	TOBIAS BAYER
213	JIMMY JANSSENS
214	SØREN KRAGH ANDERSEN
215	JASON OSBORNE
216	ROBERT STANNARD
217	FABIO VAN DEN BOSSCHE
	EQUIPO KERN PHARMA
221	ROGER ADRIA OLIVERAS
222	HECTOR CARRETERO
223	FRANCISCO GALVAN FERNANDEZ
224	RAUL GARCIA PIERNA
225	PAU MIQUEL DELGADO
226	IBON RUIZ SEDANO
227	DANNY VAN DER TUUK
	BINGOAL WB
231	LENNERT TEUGELS
232	ALEXIS GUERIN
233	JOHAN MEENS
234	JULIAN MERTENS
235	REMY MERTZ
236	MARCO TIZZA
237	LUCA VAN BOVEN
	BURGOS-BH
241	PELAYO SANCHEZ MAYO
242	CLEMENT ALLENO
243	JETSE BOL
244	JOSE MANUEL DIAZ GALLEGO
245	ALEJANDRO FRANCO GONZALEZ
246	VICTOR LANGELLOTTI
247	ANDER OKAMIKA BENGOETXEA