Welshman Williams springs surprise at Fleche Wallonne / Photo: ERIC LALMAND - Belga/AFP
Welshman Williams springs surprise at Fleche Wallonne
Welsh rider Stephen Williams won the Fleche Wallonne Spring cycling classic run across the rain-drenched Ardennes hills and plains on Wednesday as the race delivered its usual nail-biting climax.
The Israel-Premier Tech rider burst from the remaining clutch of contenders on the steepest section of the imposing Mur de Huy culminating climb opening a 30 metres gap before running out of steam and just clinging on.
This revered race won in 2023 by Tadej Pogacar but the 2024 event however saw all the top contenders caught out in a peloton split in lashing rain.
"I saw the 300m to go line and I thought if I could put five seconds into the group and get near the line, then I could hold on," said the exhausted 27-year-old at the line.
There are no cobbles along the Fleche route but constant undulating hills, culminating in the Mur de Huy with its 1.3km at 9.6 percent gradient, is prone to delivering a last gasp winner.
But the 199km race from Charleroi to Huy was marked by regular bursts of lashing rain with Tom Pidcock, Mattias Skjelmose, Tiesj Benoot and the other fancied riders missing a split.
Danish rider Soren Krach Andersen opened up a 2min gap on the reduced peloton but as the sun came out and riders began to throw their rain jackets into the roadside ditches he was caught and passed.
"What a day. I've been watching this race for years and wanted to come and race it in this kind of weather. I like to race in this kind of weather," Williams insisted.
Fellow outsiders Kevin Vauquelin and Maxim Van Gils completed the podium cheered on by huge crowds along the roadside barriers who had braved the nasty seasonal showers to witness a thrilling finale.
O.Wood--EWJ
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