Tiredness, what tiredness? Tadej Pogacar dominates rivals on the Mur de Huy to take La Fleche Wallonne 2025 in style

Cycling
Wednesday, 23 April 2025 at 16:26
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Tadej Pogacar has prevailed at a wet, cold and slippery edition of La Fleche Wallonne in 2025. The world champion dominated on the final Mur de Huy climb to take the win in style ahead of Kevin Vauquelin and Tom Pidcock.
In some disgusting weather conditions, almost every rider in the peloton was wearing their rain jacket to prevent them from getting too wet or too cold. Into the final 85km however, eight riders were managing to keep warm by rolling through in the breakaway. Those being: Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Robert Stannard (Bahrain - Victorious), Andreas Leknessund + Fredrik Dversnes (Uno-X Mobility), Tobias Foss + Artem Shmidt (INEOS Grenadiers), Ceriel Desal (Wagner Bazin WB) and local rider Tom Paquot (Intermarché - Wanty).
Last year, Israel - Premier Tech's Stephen Williams took the win in a similarly wet edition. Before the peloton even reached the Mur de Huy for the first time however, the Welshman was already suffering at the back of the bunch with 80km to go. By 50km to go, the break, now down to just six riders, had seen their advantage cut to just 50 seconds over a Soudal - Quick-Step led peloton that was definitely turning up the pace.
With Mother Nature having an affect in the Ardennes once again, the roads were soaked and seemingly incredibly slippery too. With around 40km to go, one of the pre-race favourites Mattias Skjelmose was one of a number of riders caught up in a crash at the front of the peloton, with the Dane seemingly one of those worst affected too as he visibly looked in pain.
At the front of the race meanwhile, just the Norwegian trio of Foss, Dversnes and Leknessund remained clear of the peloton at 30km to go. After dangling at around 10-15 seconds for kilometre after kilometre, the trio were eventually caught by the peloton at 7km to go. Almost immediately following the catch, UAE Team Emirates - XRG increased the speed to an infernal pace at the front.
On the descent ahead of the final Mur de Huy, both Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogacar came to the front with testing jabs, asking questions of their rivals in the process. As the Mur de Huy began though, things were still relatively tightly packed. First to make a move on the climb to the line was Ben Healy but Pogacar was straight on the wheel and around, leaving everyone in his dust.

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LiveBlog

23 April 2025 at 16:28

Tadej Pogacar WINS La Flèche Wallonne 2025!

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A super dominant victory for the Slovenian!
By far the best today.
Followed by Vauquelin and Pidcock.
23 April 2025 at 16:30

Top 10 Results:

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RankRiderTeamTime
1 POGAČAR TadejUAE Team Emirates - XRG4:50:15
2 VAUQUELIN KévinArkéa - B&B Hotels0:10
3 PIDCOCK ThomasQ36.5 Pro Cycling Team0:12
4 MARTINEZ LennyBahrain - Victorious0:13
5 HEALY BenEF Education - EasyPost,,
6 BUITRAGO SantiagoBahrain - Victorious0:16
7 GRÉGOIRE RomainGroupama - FDJ,,
8 NYS ThibauLidl - Trek,,
9 EVENEPOEL RemcoSoudal Quick-Step,,
10 SCHMID MauroTeam Jayco AlUla0:19
23 April 2025 at 16:25

Pogacar has a GIANT gap!

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He is going to be winning here today!
23 April 2025 at 16:25

Pogacar is off!

pogacar
23 April 2025 at 16:24

Healy with the first attack!

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Pogacar is easily following!
23 April 2025 at 16:24

McNulty setting the pace!

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The American is setting a heavy pace now!
23 April 2025 at 16:23

The Mur de Huy has begun!

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It's on!
Only about 25 riders in the peloton.
23 April 2025 at 16:22

Everything back together!

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Everything is back together again with 2 kilometer to go!
The Mur de Huy is coming up any second now!
23 April 2025 at 16:22

Small gap!

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Evenepoel, Vauquelin, Pogacar, McNulty and Healy are in the first group.
23 April 2025 at 16:19

No attacks on Côte de Cherave

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UAE has ripped the peloton apart with Jan Christen, but there was no attack on the climb.
Although Pogacar and Evenepoel are currently leading the descent.
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1 Comments
Jumpyjohn 24 April 2025 at 07:21+ 204

The tiredness in all the photos from this race maybe? Good he stuck to the script, not sure he’d have been able to solo it.

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