And at the end a Dutch woman wins?
January 21 st 2020 - 12:00
Born at the end of the 20th century, the Flèche Wallonne Femmes dives into the 2020s with a handful of certainties. Huy, where the riders start in the morning before fighting for glory on the Mur, celebrates the pedalling champions all day Wednesday long. The final circuit, with three climbs within about 20 kilometres, calls for aggressive racing as the main contenders get on the move ahead of the final ascent. And the neighbouring Oranje feel very much at ease in the Ardennes.
With the rainbow jersey on her shoulders, Anna van der Breggen claimed in 2019 an extraordinary fifth victory in a row. Men and women all together, nobody had ever achieved such prowesses in such an important race. Her Dutch compatriots were also enjoying themselves - four of them finished in the top 5 for the 22nd edition of a race that Marianne Vos also conquered five times, between 2007 and 2013.
Ahead of the final assault on the Mur de Huy, the Dutch challengers and their rivals will travel through roads they are already familiar with. The côte de Wârre will serve as an opener for the legs and lungs before the final circuit, with two ascents up the Mur and a novelty in this 23rd edition: the côte du chemin des Gueuses comes instead the côte de Cherave to link Ereffe and Huy. A ground perfectly suited to crown the best puncheur in the World.
Christian Prudhomme