“Whoever is freshest wins” - Evenepoel struggles in harsh conditions at La Flèche Wallonne ahead of Liège
Cycling
After an impressive return to racing at Brabantse Pijl and
Amstel Gold Race, where he showed few signs of a six-month absence, Remco
Evenepoel faced a much tougher test at La Flèche Wallonne. On a cold and grim
day in Wallonia, the Belgian star couldn't quite match his usual high
standards.
The defining moment came on the infamous Mur de Huy, the
steep, punishing climb that has decided many editions of this race. As Tadej
Pogacar launched his final, explosive attack, Evenepoel was unable to respond.
He eventually crossed the line in 9th place, a solid result for most, but a
rare off-day for a rider of his calibre.
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Speaking after the race, his Soudal – Quick-Step teammate
Mauri Vansevenant gave some insight into the brutal nature of the conditions
and the climb itself. “It's very simple here. Whoever is freshest, wins,"
Vansevenant told Wielerflits.
Reflecting on the weather and his own preparation,
Vansevenant added, “Today was better than last year, so I already knew what it
was like to have to ride this race in the rain. Today was just a light edition,
haha. So I was able to prepare myself well and stayed with Remco as long as
possible today.”
Despite the team’s best efforts, the day simply didn’t go in
Evenepoel’s favour. “Yes, it was very hard,” Vansevenant concluded. “But we
managed to support Remco well. He didn’t say much, but I think we shouldn’t
look too much for explanations.”
Evenepoel won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption.
This Sunday, he’ll line up for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a race he’s already
conquered twice before in 2022 and 2023. It will be his first Monument of the
2025 season, while for Pogacar, it will be his fourth out of four, an
astonishing run that underscores just how much we have seen of the world
champion this spring.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as 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. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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