Kevin Vauquelin comes to terms with another second place at Fleche Wallonne: "I still find it hard to believe what happened on Wednesday"
Cycling
The second place at La Fleche Wallonne brought mixed emotions for Kevin Vauquelin, who was runner-up already year ago. But now with a bit of perspective, there was nothing to be done about Tadej Pogacar who was in a class of his own.
"I still find it hard to believe what happened on Wednesday, I had to watch the video. I received a lot of congratulations and encouragement from my loved ones, which helped me realize and move on, because there is Liège-Bastogne-Liège this Sunday," said Vauquelin on the eve of La Doyenne.
New race brings new opportunities and the Arkéa - B&B Hotels rider hopes to be competitive also at the Monumental wrap up to the Classics campaign. Unlike the predictable Fleche Wallonne which revolves around the Mur de Huy, Liege-Bastogne-Liege offers endless number of scenarios.
"A bit like at La Flèche Wallonne, I hope to race properly, with the right desire and style," Vauquelin highlights. "We'll see what happens in terms of results, but I don't want to have any regrets when I cross the finish line," he explains. "With Pogacar and Evenepoel, many will want to anticipate before they put their first burst of speed on. But in these kinds of races, it's easy to make plans, but it's harder to carry them out."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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