Human Powered Health continues the Ardennes Classics campaign at La Flèche Wallone in Belgium on April 22.
The 148.2 km route in the French-speaking Wallonia region of Belgium delivers one of the most explosive finales in the Women’s WorldTour calendar atop the formidable Mur de Huy. One of the most famous roads in cycling, the brutal gradients of the Wall of Huy, ensure a selective showdown among the peloton’s best puncheurs and climbers.
Taking on the wall will be Nina Buijsman, Marit Raaijmakers, Titia Ryo and Carlotta Cipressi. They are joined by race debutants Yurani Blanco and Mona Mitterwallner.
Where the race is won
Very rarely is the parcours actually flat. With a total elevation gain of over 2,200 meters, the race is formidable, and the categorized climbs are wall-like. There are two laps of a finishing circuit that take in two ascents of these race-making climbs.
Côte d’Ereffe, 2.2 km at 5.2%
The Côte d’Ereffe is a steady but important test. It lacks the brutality of later climbs, but it can still wear down the peloton. A sharp left-hand corner into its base will scrub speed if a rider is badly positioned, and the irregular profile with steeper opening ramps encourages tempo riding and positioning battles. All together, it makes the climb a key launchpad before the sharper challenges to come.
Côte de Cherave, 1.5 km at 7.3%
The Côte de Cherave is the final launchpad before the Mur de Huy. A sharper, more selective effort, it comes just kilometres from the finish and’s the last real opportunity to attack before the wall. Expect teams to try to force a split here to avoid a pure uphill sprint. Any move using up energy must be decisive to get a big enough time gap to survive the run-in to Huy.
Mur de Huy, 800 meters at 11.7%
The stats don’t lie; the Mur de Huy is a brute. A stunning climb where the town’s name is painted all the way up the road, with a maximum gradient of 26%, it’s enough to make you wince. On the first lap, the climb is followed by an eight-kilometer plateau, so there really is no respite. The race’s defining moment, the climb is short but explosive, and rewards precise timing and positioning, with the decisive attacks typically coming in the final few hundred meters. After a demanding circuit, it’s here that the strongest puncheurs deliver their effort, and the race is ultimately decided.
How to watch
USA
NBC Sports Peacock from 10:45 am EDT / 9:45 am CDT / 8:45 am MDT / 7:45 am PDT
Canada
FloBikes
Greater Europe
Eurosport / HBO Max (region dependent) from 16:45 CET
UK
HBO Max / TNT Sports from 15:45 BST
What our athletes think
Mona Mitterwallner
I’m really looking forward to this race. I’ve been looking at the previous editions, and the Mur looks super steep, but I’ve learned about myself that I like repeated circuits. I’m new to this world, so most other riders know the parcours, so when we do a circuit, I have the chance to learn it quickly and learn how and where to invest my energy. The atmosphere of these races looks insane, so it’s super cool to have the chance to be part of it. I’ve been trying to mix my road and MTB training up quite a bit, no matter what race is coming up, so my body is used to both bikes. I am focused and prepared, and I felt good in the bunch at Amstel Gold, which made me happy.
Yurani Blanco
This is my first time doing La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and I’m really looking forward to racing in these events. I will try to enjoy the Mur de Huy and race extra hard, as well as contribute to the team and fight for my teammates. I enjoy this type of racing. Hard, steep hills and always pushing. I think we can do it really well and continue the momentum from the Amstel Gold Race.
Photos: HPHCycling, GettySport, A.S.O.
