2024 La Flèche Wallonne (World Tour), Belgium
88th edition: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
La Flèche Wallonne podium history | 2023 edition | Course map & profile | Photos | Start list
Charleroi - Huy, 198.6 km
Stephen Williams wins ahead of Kévin Vauquelin.
Notable ascents:
- Km 42.7: Côte d'Yvoir, 2.1 km @ 6%
- Km 90.8: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
- Km 103.7: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
- Km 122.4: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
- Km 135.3: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
- Km 154.1: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
- Km 167: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
- Km 185.7: Côte d'Ereffe, 2.1 km @ 5%
- km 198.6: Mur de Huy, 1.3 km @ 9.6%
David L. Stanley's masterful telling of his bout with skin cancer Melanoma: It Started with a Freckle 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 1:50 PM, local time: 8C (46F), rain, with the wind from the northwest at 18 km/hr (11 mph). The rain is forecast to end a little after 5:00.
The race: 174 riders began the race. Ben Hermans (Cofidis) did not start. The official start was given at 11:37.
Here's the organizer's race summary:
Stephen Williams (Israel - Premier Tech) took victory in the 2024 Flèche Wallonne, making history by becoming the first British winner of the race, with a brilliantly timed finish on the fourth climb of the Mur de Huy. After a race which saw sunshine, torrential rain and even snow, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) and Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny) were also on the podium, after crossing the finish line in second and third respectively, closely behind the victorious Williams.
It was dry when the race started. But rain came. ASO photo
A 30th start in Charleroi
174 riders took the start of the 88th edition of the Flèche Wallonne, as Charleroi hosted the start of the race for the 30th time. The 2024 midweek Ardennes classic marked the 40th finish of La Flèche Wallonne atop the Mur de Huy, with the peloton taking on the brutal climb of the famous Chemin des Chapelles on four occasions for the first time ever. Ben Hermans (Cofidis) was finally unable to take the start, in what would have been his 12th participation at Flèche Wallonne, having achieved his best result of 14th on his debut in 2009.
Six riders clear at the front
At km 11 Igor Chzhan (Astana) and Johan Meens (Bingoal WB) joined the four riders already at the front, Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies), James Whelan (Q.365) and Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), who had been the first attacker in the first kilometre. Aaron Van der Beken (Bingoal WB) tried to go with Meens in the chase to the front group but finally dropped back. Juaristi was also the first rider to reach the summit of Côte d’Yvoir at km 42.7 and the six man breakaway had established an advantage of 4'30'' over the peloton after 50 km of racing.
Difficult weather conditions
The breakaway riders were absolutely drenched by torrential rain as they rode into Huy for the first time and there was even some snowfall. Whelan struggled for several minutes to get his jacket on correctly, but finally managed to do so before the Mur de Huy, although he briefly lost some ground on the other five in the break. As the peloton reached the top of the Mur de Huy for the first of four climbs of this famous ascent, they reduced the gap to the breakaway to 2’. That first ascent of the Mur saw a group of several riders dropped by the peloton, including Aleksandr Vlasov (BORA - hansgrohe) and Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step). After the first Mur de Huy climb Jousseaume was back in the peloton after more than 100km in the breakaway, whilst Dylan Teuns (Israel - Premier Tech), the winner of the 2022 edition, was dropped by the peloton with 75km to go.
Mur de Huy takes its toll
A reduced breakaway of Calmejane, Meens and Juaristi were swallowed up by the bunch, before the riders tackled the Mur de Huuy for the second time. This time it was the big favourites who lost contact with the main peloton: Marc Hirschi, Tom Pidcock, Mattias Skjelmose and David Gaudu were excluded from the group. Valentin Madouas, who took the lead at the Mur summit (km 135.3), was one of the most aggressive, but Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin - Deceuninck) launched into a solo attack 60 km from the finish. With 46km of racing to go there were only around 30 riders left in the peloton and they were 1’ behind the solo race leader Kragh Andersen. Meanwhile Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility) briefly got 20" in front of the bunch trying to chase down Kragh Andersen, but his attempt to do so did not last long.
Amazing effort by Kragh Andersen
On the penultimate climb of the Mur Kragh Andersen crossed the summit 1’ ahead of Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain - Victorious) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost), 1'05'' ahead of the peloton led by Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels). Israel - Premier Tech's Stephen Williams went on the offensive with 28km to go, chasing Kragh Andersen, then a quartet composed of Maxim Van Gils (Lotto Dstny), Vauquelin, Buitrago and Carapaz joined Williams in the chase. Those five chasers were caught by the peloton 17 km from the finish. Kragh Andersen was in turn caught by the peloton on the final Côte d’Ereffe climb with just under 15 km to go, having spent 46 km solo at the front of the race.
Williams is the winner
The 2024 winner Williams timed a late attack perfectly and ultimately shot across the finish line at the top one of the hardest climbs in pro cycling after 198.6km of racing with his historic performance, getting the better of a strong group of 31 riders who battled it out on the Mur de Huy. Vauquelin was so close to the victory, as Williams was just too strong for him in the final metres, with Van Gils in third, followed over the line by Benoit Cosnefroy in fourth and Buitrago in fifth.
Content continues below the ads
Complete Results:
198.6 kilometers raced at an average speed of 42.496 km/hr
| 1 | STEPHEN WILLIAMS | ISRAEL-PREMIER TECH | 4hr 40min 24sec |
| 2 | KÉVIN VAUQUELIN | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | s.t. |
| 3 | MAXIM VAN GILS | LOTTO DSTNY | @ 3sec |
| 4 | BENOIT COSNEFROY | DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE | s.t. |
| 5 | SANTIAGO BUITRAGO | BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | s.t. |
| 6 | TOBIAS HALLAND JOHANNESSEN | UNO-X MOBILITY | 0' 10'' |
| 7 | ROMAIN GREGOIRE | GROUPAMA-FDJ | s.t. |
| 8 | DORIAN GODON | DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE | s.t. |
| 9 | TIESJ BENOOT | TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | s.t. |
| 10 | GUILLAUME MARTIN | COFIDIS | s.t. |
| 11 | CLÉMENT CHAMPOUSSIN | ARKEA-B&B HOTELS | 0' 16'' |
| 12 | TOMS SKUJINS | LIDL-TREK | 0' 18'' |
| 13 | RICHARD CARAPAZ | EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST | 0' 20'' |
| 14 | JORDAN JEGAT | TOTALENERGIES | 0' 23'' |
| 15 | VALENTIN MADOUAS | GROUPAMA-FDJ | 0' 24'' |
| 16 | ILAN VAN WILDER | SOUDAL QUICK-STEP | s.t. |
| 17 | ODD CHRISTIAN EIKING | UNO-X MOBILITY | s.t. |
| 18 | AXEL LAURANCE | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | s.t. |
| 19 | QUINTEN HERMANS | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 0' 30'' |
| 20 | TIM VAN DIJKE | TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | 0' 32'' |
| 21 | ENZO LEIJNSE | TEAM DSM-FIRMENICH POSTNL | s.t. |
| 22 | BRUNO ARMIRAIL | DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE | s.t. |
| 23 | ANDERS SKAARSETH | UNO-X MOBILITY | 0' 36'' |
| 24 | DAVIDE FORMOLO | MOVISTAR TEAM | s.t. |
| 25 | FABIEN DOUBEY | TOTALENERGIES | 0' 41'' |
| 26 | ROGER ADRIA OLIVERAS | BORA-HANSGROHE | 0' 43'' |
| 27 | JOHANNES STAUNE-MITTET | TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE | 0' 52'' |
| 28 | LUCA VAN BOVEN | BINGOAL WB | 0' 59'' |
| 29 | DAMIEN CRAIG HOWSON | Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM | 1' 08'' |
| 30 | MARKUS HOELGAARD | UNO-X MOBILITY | 1' 21'' |
| 31 | ÅDNE HOLTER | UNO-X MOBILITY | s.t. |
| 32 | NICOLAS PRODHOMME | DECATHLON AG2R LA MONDIALE | 1' 59'' |
| 33 | JAMES FOUCHE | EUSKALTEL-EUSKADI | 3' 15'' |
| 34 | BEN HEALY | EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST | 3' 26'' |
| 35 | BAUKE MOLLEMA | LIDL-TREK | 3' 49'' |
| 36 | ANDREAS LEKNESSUND | UNO-X MOBILITY | 6' 07'' |
| 37 | SOREN KRAGH ANDERSEN | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 6' 44'' |
| 38 | CARLOS CANAL BLANCO | MOVISTAR TEAM | s.t. |
| 39 | JOHAN MEENS | BINGOAL WB | s.t. |
| 40 | LORENZO GERMANI | GROUPAMA-FDJ | 6' 59'' |
| 41 | ANDREAS LORENTZ KRON | LOTTO DSTNY | s.t. |
| 42 | ANTHON CHARMIG | ASTANA QAZAQSTAN TEAM | s.t. |
| 43 | MARTIN URIANSTAD BUGGE | UNO-X MOBILITY | s.t. |
| 44 | LUCA VERGALLITO | ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK | 7' 13'' |
Content continues below the ads
2024 Flèche Wallonne map
2024 Flèche Wallonne profile
2024 Flèche Wallonne photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti:
Jacob Fuglsang before the start
The peloton is lined up and ready to start in Charleroi
The weather turned ugly. Here the riders climb the Mur de Huy.
A Visma | Lease a Bike riders enduring the misery.
Near the finish. Looks like Stephen Williams has it.
Stephen Williams wins the race.
This picture of Benoit Cosnefroy after the race sums up a tough day of racing.
The podium, from left: Kévin Vauquelin (2nd), Stephen Williams (1st) & Maxim Van Gils (3rd).
Winner Stephen Williams
Content continues below the ads
Start list with back numbers, April 16, 2023:
| UAE Team Emirates | |
| 1 | Marc Hirschi |
| 2 | Juan Ayuso |
| 3 | Finn Fisher-Black |
| 4 | Joao Almeida |
| 5 | Brandon McNulty |
| 6 | Domen Novak |
| 7 | Diego Ulissi |
| Lidl-Trek | |
| 11 | Mattias Skjelmose |
| 12 | Andrea Bagioli |
| 13 | Julien Bernard |
| 14 | Patrick Konrad |
| 15 | Bauke Mollema |
| 16 | Sam Oomen |
| 17 | Toms Skujins |
| Soudal Quick-Step | |
| 21 | Mauri Vansevenant |
| 22 | Antoine Huby |
| 23 | James Knox |
| 24 | Pepijn Reinderink |
| 25 | Pieter Serry |
| 26 | Ilan Van Wilder |
| 27 | Louis Vervaeke |
| Israel-Premier Tech | |
| 31 | Dylan Teuns |
| 32 | George Bennett |
| 33 | Simon Clarke |
| 34 | Jakob Fuglsang |
| 35 | Nick Schultz |
| 36 | Jake Stewart |
| 37 | Stephen Williams |
| Cofidis | |
| 41 | Ion Izagirre |
| 42 | Ruben Fernandez |
| 43 | Ben Hermans |
| 44 | Jesus Herrada |
| 45 | Gorka Izagirre |
| 46 | Guillaume Martin |
| 47 | Anthony Perez |
| Team Visma | Lease A Bike | |
| 51 | Tiesj Benoot |
| 52 | Johannes Staune-Mittet |
| 53 | Milan Vader |
| 54 | Loe Van Belle |
| 55 | Tosh Van Der Sande |
| 56 | Tim Van Dijke |
| 57 | Julien Vermote |
| Lotto Dstny | |
| 61 | Maxim Van Gils |
| 62 | Jenno Berckmoes |
| 63 | Logan Currie |
| 64 | Jarrad Drizners |
| 65 | Andreas Kron |
| 66 | Sylvain Moniquet |
| 67 | Jonas Gregaard |
| Team dsm-firmenich Postnl | |
| 71 | Kevin Vermaerke |
| 72 | Matthew Dinham |
| 73 | Patrick Eddy |
| 74 | Enzo Leijnse |
| 75 | Tim Naberman |
| 76 | Martijn Tusveld |
| 77 | Frank Van Den Broek |
| Arkea-B&B Hotels | |
| 81 | Kévin Vauquelin |
| 82 | Louis Barré |
| 83 | Clément Champoussin |
| 84 | Ewen Costiou |
| 85 | Anthony Delaplace |
| 86 | Simon Guglielmi |
| 87 | Laurens Huys |
| Movistar Team | |
| 91 | Oier Lazkano |
| 92 | Alex Aranburu |
| 93 | Jorge Arcas |
| 94 | Carlos Canal |
| 95 | Davide Formolo |
| 96 | Iván García Cortina |
| 97 | Ivan Romeo |
| Bahrain Victorious | |
| 101 | Pello Bilbao |
| 102 | Yukiya Arashiro |
| 103 | Santiago Buitrago |
| 104 | Nicolo Buratti |
| 105 | Fran Miholjevic |
| 106 | Lukasz Wisniowski |
| 107 | Edoardo Zambanini |
| Uno-X Mobility | |
| 111 | Tobias Halland Johannessen |
| 112 | Martin Urianstad Bugge |
| 113 | Odd Christian Eiking |
| 114 | Markus Hoelgaard |
| 115 | Ådne Holter |
| 116 | Anders Skaarseth |
| 117 | Andreas Leknessund |
| INEOS Grenadiers | |
| 121 | Tom Pidcock |
| 122 | Laurens De Plus |
| 123 | Omar Fraile |
| 124 | Ethan Hayter |
| 125 | Michal Kwiatkowski |
| 126 | Brandon Rivera |
| 127 | Cameron Wurf |
| Alpecin-Deceuninck | |
| 131 | Axel Laurance |
| 132 | Quinten Hermans |
| 133 | Juri Hollmann |
| 134 | Søren Kragh Andersen |
| 135 | Xandro Meurisse |
| 136 | Luca Vergallito |
| 137 | Stan Van Tricht |
| EF Education-EasyPost | |
| 141 | Richard Carapaz |
| 142 | Owain Doull |
| 143 | Ben Healy |
| 144 | Mikkel Honore |
| 145 | Archie Ryan |
| 146 | James Shaw |
| 147 | Harry Sweeny |
| Team Jayco-AlUla | |
| 151 | Michael Matthews |
| 152 | Lawson Craddock |
| 153 | Davide De Pretto |
| 154 | Luke Durbridge |
| 155 | Anders Foldager |
| 156 | Jan Maas |
| 157 | Mauro Schmid |
| Groupama-FDJ | |
| 161 | David Gaudu |
| 162 | Lorenzo Germani |
| 163 | Romain Grégoire |
| 164 | Valentin Madouas |
| 165 | Quentin Pacher |
| 166 | Rémy Rochas |
| 167 | Clément Russo |
| Intermarché-Wanty | |
| 171 | Francesco Busatto |
| 172 | Baptiste Planckaert |
| 173 | Lilian Calmejane |
| 174 | Kevin Colleoni |
| 175 | Tom Paquot |
| 176 | Lorenzo Rota |
| 177 | Rein Taaramäe |
| TotalEnergies | |
| 181 | Mathieu Burgaudeau |
| 182 | Fabien Doubey |
| 183 | Fabien Grellier |
| 184 | Alan Jousseaume |
| 185 | Jordan Jegat |
| 186 | Alexis Vuillermoz |
| 187 | Mattéo Vercher |
| Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale | |
| 191 | Benoît Cosnefroy |
| 192 | Bruno Armirail |
| 193 | Dorian Godon |
| 194 | Jordan Labrosse |
| 195 | Paul Lapeira |
| 196 | Nicolas Prodhomme |
| 197 | Valentin Retailleau |
| Astana Qazaqstan Team | |
| 201 | Simone Velasco |
| 202 | Samuele Battistella |
| 203 | Anthon Charmig |
| 204 | Igor Chzhan |
| 205 | Yevgeniy Fedorov |
| 206 | Cristian Scaroni |
| 207 | Santiago Umba |
| Bora-hansgrohe | |
| 211 | Aleksandr Vlasov |
| 212 | Roger Adrià |
| 213 | Giovanni Aleotti |
| 214 | Alexander Hajek |
| 215 | Bob Jungels |
| 216 | Matteo Sobrero |
| 217 | Frederik Wandahl |
| Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | |
| 221 | Gianluca Brambilla |
| 222 | Walter Calzoni |
| 223 | Mark Donovan |
| 224 | Alessandro Fancellu |
| 225 | Damien Howson |
| 226 | Joey Rosskopf |
| 227 | James Whelan |
| Bingoal-WB | |
| 231 | Floris De Tier |
| 232 | Louka Matthys |
| 233 | Johan Meens |
| 234 | Luca Van Boven |
| 235 | Aaron Van Der Beken |
| 236 | Giacomo Villa |
| 237 | Loic Vliegen |
| Euskaltel-Euskadi | |
| 241 | Gotzon Martín |
| 242 | Xabier Berasategi |
| 243 | Xabier Isasa |
| 244 | Victor De La Parte |
| 245 | James Fouche |
| 246 | Txomin Juaristi |
| 247 | Iker Mintegi |