We seemed to label the Waalse Pijl as a traditional yawn race for the umpteenth time, but the deep final suddenly became fascinating thanks to a Belgian touch.
On the Côte de Cherave, the trampoline about 7 kilometers from the finish, Mauri Vansevenant slipped along on a three-stage Cofidis rocket.
With steam train Soren Kragh Andersen on board as well, it looked equally rosy, but just before the rag the classic “mass sprint” was unavoidable.
Julian Alaphilippe didn’t seem playful, a pale Tadej Pogacar had also let himself be drummed away a bit.
Veteran Alejandro Valverde can’t learn anything more about this finish and the 41-year-old five-time winner fired his first dart 250 meters from the top.
Dylan Teuns immediately reacted and put Grandpa Valverde in his place. The rest were already tongue-tied by then.
With a final convulsion he came up to shoulder height for a while, but then Teuns – who never lost control – drove the grandmaster smoothly out of the wheel.
Teuns crossed the finish line like an eagle, good for the first Belgian victory in Huy since Philippe Gilbert in 2011.
