Tadej Pogacar detonates on Mur de Huy to win La Fleche Wallonne again, Tom Pidcock third; Puck Pieterse wins La Fleche Wallonne Femmes
By Ben Snowball
Updated 23/04/2025 at 17:27 GMT+1
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In a rain-soaked edition of La Fleche Wallonne, Tadej Pogacar delivered a masterclass on the Mur de Huy. The Slovenian's brutal attack on the steepest section left his rivals trailing, with Kevin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock completing the podium after judging their final efforts. Puck Pieterse found a late sprint to beat Demi Vollering to win La Fleche Wallonne Femmes.
'He's gone!' - Pogacar cracks rivals to conquer the feared Mur de Huy
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tadej Pogacar exploded on the Mur de Huy as he conquered miserable conditions to win La Fleche Wallonne for a second time.
The Slovenian (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) defied the iconic climb's steep gradients, distancing a 25-strong bunch in a matter of pedal strokes.
Pre-race suggestions that Pogacar might coast through this race, given his demanding schedule and the bigger prizes to come, were rebutted by his words before the start - and then his legs.
As expected, the race was settled on the final climb, although not before surprise Amstel Gold Race winner Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) had his hopes dashed in a crash with 40km remaining.
Pogacar briefly attacked after cresting the penultimate climb, the Cote d'Ereffe, but Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) followed as a select group formed on the descent. Pogacar's team-mate Brandon McNulty returned to the front to set a searing tempo, though the race regrouped with a gaggle of riders in contention.
As the Mur de Huy loomed, Jan Christen took over from McNulty, driving up the watts further with Pogacar poised on his wheel. Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) was first to blink, but his lead lasted mere seconds before Pogacar dropped the hammer on the steepest section.
No one could respond. Pogacar quickly opened up a sizeable gap as those behind struggled, allowing him to coast to a comfortable win. Behind, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkea-B&B Hotels) won the battle for second as Britain's Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) made a late surge for third.
"It's a really great feeling to win again here on this tough, beautiful final climb," said Pogacar. "As a cyclist, you don't like it so much!
"Today the weather was also not the best so it was a really tough race. To pull off a win means a lot."
Pogacar will next race at Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday, where he will start as overwhelming favourite.
Pieterse beats Vollering to victory
Puck Pieterse (Fenix–Deceuninck) outsprinted Demi Vollering (FDJ–Suez) to win La Fleche Wallonne Femmes.
Vollering, who has now been runner-up in the last two years after winning the race in 2023, led from Pieterse heading towards the line up Mur de Huy.
However, Pieterse found a burst of speed in the final 150m to charge into the lead.
Vollering couldn't close the gap and Pieterse raised her arms in the air as she crossed the line first.
"It took everything but I am really happy to get a victory here," said Pieterse.
"I think I did everything good this race, I attacked where everybody says you have to attack, so I listened to my sports director for a change."
Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) took third ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma ( Canyon–SRAM zondacrypto).
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