British professional cyclist Stephen Williams won the 88th edition of the Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday (April 17, 2024).
After 198.6 kilometers in cold and sleet in the Belgian Ardennes, the 27-year-old from Team Israel-Premier Tech came ahead of Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin and the Frenchman Kevin Vauquelin in the brutally difficult uphill finale on the infamous Huy Wall (maximum 27 percent gradient). Belgian Maxim van Gils.
More than two thirds gave up
The probably toughest conditions in the history of the semi-classic led to numerous tasks, and not even a third of the drivers made it to the finish. Many of the favorites such as the young Spanish star Juan Ayuso (UAE Team Emirates) and the Dane Matthias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) were also eliminated.
It was an early end for the only German starter, Juri Hollmann (Berlin/Alpecin-Deceuninck), as was Alexander Vlasov, captain of the German team Bora-hansgrohe.
Tadej Pogacar not at the start this time
Last year’s winner Tadej Pogacar was missing this time. The Slovenian is concentrating on the big duel with Dutch top star Mathieu van der Poel on Sunday at Liège-Bastogne-Liège at the end of the Ardennes week.
