La Flèche Wallonne 2024 – Analysing the contenders

La Flèche Wallonne and La Flèche Wallonne Femmes are Classics unique among the calendar of WorldTour races, culminating with the leg-breakingly steep climb, the 1.3km Mur de Huy which hits 22% in places as it winds up beyond the Walloon town of Huy.

The race is somewhat unique for a one-day Classic in that all the deciding action is confined to the final 1.3km of the race up the double-digit gradients of the ‘wall’. As such, it suits puncheurs and pure climbs with explosivity in their legs.

Tadej Pogačar and Demi Vollering are the reigning champions of the two races, though the Slovenian star won’t be back to defend his title on the 199km men’s course. Vollering will be back in the number 1 bib number at the women’s race, however, as they tackle a similar 146km route.

But beyond Vollering, and the man who took victory at the first of the Ardennes triple at Amstel Gold Race at the weekend, Tom Pidcock, there are plenty of other candidates for victory on one of the toughest hillclimbing challenges of the pro season.

We’ve pored through the start lists to pick out 10 of the best bets for glory at La Flèche Wallonne and La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, so read on for our top contenders at Wednesday’s races.

Last year’s Ardennes triple winner has had an uncharacteristically slow start to the season: two podiums would hardly be a bad start for most riders but Demi Vollering was almost unbeatable in 2023 and has yet to win so far this year.

The start of the Ardennes Classics is a chance for the 27-year-old to shine and to shake off the media scrutiny that’s followed her since rumours emerged in February that UAE Team ADQ offered her €1 million to jump ship from SD Worx-Protime and the subsequent breakdown in negotiations with her current team.

Vollering’s main goals of the season are much later in the summer: a defence of her Tour de France title and the high pressure of the Paris Olympics, so it’s understandable if she has intentionally taken a slower start. But winning races removes pressure and provides momentum for the rest of the calendar, and a race like La Flèche Wallonne is a chance to renew her status as the world’s best climber.

If she isn’t up to it, Niamh Fisher-Black has been climbing extremely well, as the Volta a Valenciana showed, so SD Worx have a strong backup plan. (LW)