⛰ Dans la 2ème ascension du Mur, c'est maintenant @MarcHirschi qui est distancé. @tompidcock est également en difficulté. ⛰ On the 2nd ascent of the Mur, it is now @MarcHirschi who is behind. @tompidcock is also in trouble. #FlecheWallonne
🎥 Van der Poel and Pogacar laugh in the sun: only 44 (!) riders finish Flèche Wallonne, Skjelmose carried off his bike
CyclingWednesday, 17 April 2024 at 10:46
The 2024 Flèche Wallonne will go down in history as one of the toughest and most heroic editions. In a race that normally proceeds smoothly and finishes with an uphill sprint on the Mur de Huy, it was warfare on Wednesday due to the harsh weather conditions. Almost all the top favorites had to abandon the race, suffering from hypothermia after being dropped before the final.
Tom Pidcock, Marc Hirschi, Mattias Skjelmose, Dylan Teuns, David Gaudu... just some names who could have won the Flèche Wallonne, but were dropped during the penultimate climb of the Mur de Huy. Their legs simply gave out in a race that was blindsided by snow and freezing rain halfway through. The conditions were so harsh that even the rain jackets proved inadequate, and certainly no match for the exposed skin. Skjelmose had to be physically carried off his bike due to severe hypothermia.
Continue reading below the video!
#FlecheWallonne 🇧🇪 Des Conditions météorologiques dantesques. Abandon du Leader de la @LidlTrek M.Skeljmose 🇩🇰.
Frozen and shivering riders at the Flèche Wallonne, contrasted with Van der Poel basking in the sun
The race produced unforgettable scenes: Mathieu Burgaudeau visibly struggling and hypothermic as he tried to don a jacket, awkward fumbles with a jacket at Q36.5, and slow-motion shots of riders who looked like they'd rather be cozy under blankets in sweatpants. Only 44 riders managed to reach the finish line. For many, it was far from the ideal lead-up to Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. Meanwhile, cycling stars Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar were seen enjoying warmer climes, smiling under the sun on a mountain earlier this week.
🥶 “He’s an absolute picture of how bad this is!” So cold you can’t grab a zipper at #FlecheWallonne! #sbscycling #couchpeloton
😅 Dans ces conditions, mettre un imperméable relève de l'exploit, n'est-ce pas @JiimmyWhelan ? 😅 In these conditions, putting on a rain jacket is quite a feat, isn't it @JiimmyWhelan? #FlecheWallonne
Il Lombardia 2024
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Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024