At 37 years old, the Italian rider Davide Rebellin (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) managed today to win the Flèche Wallonne for the third time in his carreer (after 2004 and 2007).

In 2004 he already wrote history by becoming the first rider to win the classic triple Amstel Gold Race, Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège in the same year, in 2009 he writes history again by becoming the 4th rider ever to win the Flèche Wallonne three times (the three others are Marcel Kint in 1943/1944/1945, Eddy Merckx in 1967/1970/1972 and Moreno Argentin in 1990/1991/1994).

The story of the race

After his fall in the Amstel Gold Race, Frank Schleck decided not to participate in the Flèche Wallonne today. The other favourites were all there, including Alejandro Valverde, Damiano Cunego, Samuel Sanchez, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck.

Immediately after the start from Charleroi, the Belgian rider Preben van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), who we also saw in the final of the Tour of Flanders, attacked but the peloton didn't need much time to get back on him.

The French rider Christophe Moreau (photo, Agritubel) and the Japanese Fumiyuki Beppu (Skil Shimano) didn't wait for long to attack together at kilometer 7. The two riders manage to create a gap of up to 15 minutes and 30 seconds at kilometer 50. At the first crossing of the finish line on top of the Mur de Huy (this climbing road which is actually called the Chemin des Chapelles is 1,3 kilometers long and ends 128 meters higher after a climb with an average of 9,6% and a maximum of 23%; as usual the riders had to climb it 3 times in the Flèche Wallonne today) at kilometer 67 they however already lost one minute of this gap.

The Japanese rider manages to follow up to just after the second climb to the finish line but at kilometer 117 (at 78 kilometers from the finish) he lets Christophe Moreau continue alone.

In the Côte de Thon, at 45 kilometers from the finish Chris Anker Sørensen (photo, Saxo Bank) attacks and gets away from the peloton, accompanied by no less than 16 other riders who start the chase on the former French champion. The peloton accellerates as well and takes this group back while reducing the gap with Christophe Moreau as well.
Moreau is taken back at 25 kilometers from the finish on top of the Côte de Bohisseau after over 160 kilometers ahead of the peloton.

On the Côte de Bousalle several riders tried to get away with especially Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) and Alexandr Kolobnev (Saxo Bank) who were quickly taken back and left their place to José Serpa (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni) who managed to stay ahead for about ten kilometers before being taken back as well at the start of the climb of the Côte de Ahin at 14 kilometers from the finish.

In this climb a new leading group was formed and several other riders joined this group a bit later to form a leading group of 6 riders: Michele Scarponi (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni), Joaquim Rodriguez (photo, Caisse d'Epargne) and Christian Pfannberger (Katusha), Paolo Tiralongo (Lampre NGC), Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) and Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank) but their adventure didn't last till the end since the peloton got back on them at 4 kilometers from the finish.

In the last climb of the Mur de Huy the Australian rider Cadel Evans was the first to attack, followed by Davide Rebellin and Andy Schleck.

Finally Davide Rebellin won ahead of Andy Schleck (photo), Damiano Cunego, Samuel Sanchez and Cadel Evans. One of the other favourites, Alejandro Valverde finished 7th while the winner of the Amstel Gold Race finished 13th.

The mountain prize (the polka dot jersey of the Flèche Wallonne) was of course for Christophe Moreau who managed to take 32 points in his duo adventure with Beppu.

The Flèche Wallonne for ladies

For the ladies the there was also a third Flèche Wallonne win for the Dutch Marianne Vos (photo) who joins Davide Rebellin at this level by finishing ahead of Emma Johansson and Claudia Häusler.

For the Flèche Wallonne Ladies she thus joins Fabiana Luperini who won in 1998, 2001 and 2002 and Nicole Cooke with her wins in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Marianne Vos is however the first to win this classic three times in row.

And next Sunday ...

... it's time for the Doyenne des Classiques, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, from Liège to Ans over 261 kilometers. The start is planned on the Place Saint-Lambert in Liège at 10AM while the riders should finish somewhere between 4.28AM and 5.07PM on the Rue Jean Jaurès in Ans.

© photo above this article: tetedelacourse

door Thomas Vergouwen
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this publication is published in: Cycling general (except Tour de France)

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