"I was almost in tears... Finishing ahead of Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel" - Kevin Vauquelin runner-up at La Fleche Wallonne for second year in a row
Cycling
For the second year in a row, Kevin Vauquelin has claimed a very impressive 2nd at La Fleche Wallonne in 2025. Despite the growing familiarity with the Mur de Huy, the Frenchman looked completely stunned as his crossed the finish first of the mortals, behind only the world champion Tadej Pogacar.
"I was almost in tears. I’ve been through some tough times lately — especially at the Amstel and in other races where I just couldn’t find my form," reflects an emotional Vauquelin in his post-race interview afterwards, on the same day as he team boss at Arkéa - B&B Hotels, Emannuel Hubert revealed the precarious future of the French outfit and therefore the career's of the riders involved.
With Vauquelin's performance however, there is some much needed positivity in the camp. "Given the field today, a top 10 would’ve already been amazing. And now, to repeat what I did last year — finishing behind none other than Tadej Pogacar, ahead of Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel… Honestly, I couldn’t have asked for much more," he beams. "I’m blown away."
"I was well positioned at the base of the climb, and I really focused on holding my place. Even by the bottom of the descent, we’d already opened up a bit of a gap. I fought hard," continues the 23-year-old's recap. "I saw Tadej go very early and paced myself. Then I saw Remco crack, and Ben Healy too. That’s when I told myself: ‘Now’s the time — go for it. This isn’t like last year, don’t wait.’"
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HE MADE IT LOOK EASY 😎
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) April 23, 2025
Tadej Pogacar cruises to victory on the Mur de Huy - nobody else ever looked close to challenging the world champion! pic.twitter.com/NyBDdK4DQq
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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