2016 La Flèche Wallonne
2016 UCI World Tour, race 12 of 28 | |||||||||||||
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Race details | |||||||||||||
Dates | 20 April 2016 | ||||||||||||
Stages | 1 | ||||||||||||
Distance | 196 km (121.8 mi) | ||||||||||||
Winning time | 4h 43' 57" | ||||||||||||
Results | |||||||||||||
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The 2016 La Flèche Wallonne (English: The Walloon Arrow) was a one-day
The race took place on a hilly 196-kilometre (122 mi) route that started in
The race was decided in a group sprint on the Mur de Huy. The sprint was won by Valverde, who beat Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx–Quick-Step) into second place for the second consecutive year, with Alaphilippe's teammate Dan Martin third. It was Valverde's third consecutive win and his fourth overall, giving him the record for the most victories in the race.
Route
The route was slightly changed from the 2015 edition. The start moved to Marche-en-Famenne and the Côte des 36 Tournants was replaced by two climbs of the Côte de Solieres, later on in the race. The decisive final section of the race, however, remained unchanged.[1] The race included twelve classified climbs, including three ascents of the Mur de Huy.[2]
After beginning the race in Marche-en-Famenne, the riders travelled south, before turning north after 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) and passing through Rochefort. There was then a fairly flat 50 kilometres (31 mi) that brought the peloton to Ohey, where the riders entered a series of circuits around Huy. The first climb was the Côte de Bellaire after 67 kilometres (42 mi), followed by the Côte de Bohissau, the Côte de Solieres and the first climb of the Mur de Huy, which came with 101 kilometres (63 mi) covered and 95 kilometres (59 mi) remaining. The next circuit took the riders southeast out of Huy, across the Côte d'Ereffe, and back to Ohey. They then followed the same sequence of the Côte de Bellaire, the Côte de Bohissau, the Côte de Solieres and the Mur de Huy. The second climb of the Mur came with 29 kilometres (18 mi) remaining.[2][3]
The final circuit took the riders back across the Côte d'Ereffe for the second time, but then turned north for a shorter route back into Huy. After entering the town, there was a detour to climb the Côte de Cherave. This is a 1.3-kilometre (0.81 mi) climb at an average gradient of 8.1%; the summit came with 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) remaining. After the descent back into Huy, the riders climbed the Mur de Huy for the third time, with the finish line coming at the top of the climb. The Mur de Huy is a 1.3-kilometre (0.81 mi) climb at an average gradient of 9.6%.[2]
Teams
The race organisers invited 25 teams to participate in the 2016 La Flèche Wallonne. As it is a UCI World Tour event, all 18
UCI WorldTeams[5]
UCI Professional Continental teams[5]
Pre-race favourites
La Flèche Wallonne is part of the Ardennes classics. These begin with the Amstel Gold Race (won in 2016 by Wanty–Groupe Gobert's Enrico Gasparotto[9]) and end the following weekend with the Liège–Bastogne–Liège; La Flèche Wallonne comes in the middle of the week. The three races are characterised by short, steep climbs, particularly towards the end of each race and suit the puncheurs.[10]
The defending champion and favourite for the race was Alejandro Valverde (Movistar Team). Valverde had won the race in 2006, 2014 and 2015. No rider had ever won more than three editions of La Flèche Wallonne. Valverde was in strong form following his victory at the Vuelta a Castilla y León on the previous weekend, although he was preparing particularly for the 2016 Giro d'Italia rather than for the Ardennes classics. His team included Daniel Moreno, who had won the 2013 La Flèche Wallonne.[1][11][12]
Two other former winners of the race were on the start list in 2016. These were Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team), the winner in 2011, and Joaquim Rodríguez (Team Katusha), the winner in 2012.[13] Neither was in a strong position, however: Gilbert suffered a broken finger during an altercation in training with a driver and had struggled during the Amstel Gold Race. The BMC team manager said that Gilbert was "certainly not here as one of the favourites" and had considered skipping the race.[14] Rodríguez, meanwhile, had abandoned the Amstel Gold Race following a bad crash.[1]
Other riders considered potential winners were Dan Martin and Julian Alaphilippe (both Etixx–Quick-Step), Michael Albasini (Orica–GreenEDGE) and Sergio Henao (Team Sky),[1][11] with the latter being unable to start.[8]
Result
Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Alejandro Valverde (ESP) | Movistar Team | 4h 43' 57" |
2 | Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 0" |
3 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | + 0" |
4 | Wout Poels (NED) | Team Sky | + 4" |
5 | Enrico Gasparotto (ITA) | Wanty–Groupe Gobert | + 5" |
6 | Samuel Sánchez (ESP) | BMC Racing Team | + 5" |
7 | Michael Albasini (SUI) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 5" |
8 | Diego Ulissi (ITA) | Lampre–Merida | + 5" |
9 | Warren Barguil (FRA) | Team Giant–Alpecin | + 5" |
10 | Rui Costa (POR) | Lampre–Merida | + 5" |
Race summary
It took over an hour for a
The peloton was led by a range of teams, including Movistar, Katusha, Orica–GreenEDGE, Astana and Etixx–Quick-Step. With 63 kilometres (39 mi) remaining, the lead had been reduced to just over two minutes. On the second climb of the Côte de Bohissau, 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) after that, Van der Sande and Bono attacked, with only Dillier and Cummings able to follow them from the breakaway.[16] Around 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) later, on the Côte de Solières, Fränk Schleck (Trek–Segafredo) crashed in the peloton and was forced to withdraw from the race, having apparently suffered a broken collarbone.[18] On the penultimate climb of the Mur de Huy, Dillier attacked, with Cummings following; the pair were a minute ahead of the peloton. Cummings attacked alone at the top of the climb and briefly had a 55-second lead, but the peloton was driven hard by Movistar and Katusha and he was caught with 18 kilometres (11 mi) remaining.[16][17]
The next attack came on the Côte d'Ereffe from
On the climb, Valverde stayed at the front of the peloton. Rodríguez made a brief, unsuccessful effort to escape from the group. He was passed by Dan Martin, but Valverde followed Martin's wheel until there were 300 metres (330 yd) remaining. Valverde then attacked and, although he was followed by Alaphilippe, finished comfortably ahead of the rest of the peloton to claim his third consecutive win in La Flèche Wallonne. Alaphilippe was second and Martin third, both on the same time as Valverde. Wout Poels finished fourth, four seconds back, with Enrico Gasparotto the first of nine riders to finish in a group five seconds behind Valverde.[17][19]
Post-race analysis
Reactions
Valverde's performance was described as "a master class on how to race the Mur de Huy" by VeloNews, which went on to describe him as "king of the Mur".[20] Valverde himself said that taking the record for the most wins in the race was "a real honour". He gave credit to his team – and especially to Giovanni Visconti – for driving hard just before the climb started, in order to get him into the perfect position. He said that he had been confident that, if he accelerated in the final part of the climb, he would be able to stay away to the finish line.[21]
Alaphilippe hit his handlebars in frustration after finishing second, but afterwards said that he could "only be pleased". He said that he had initially been disappointed, but then realised that, after two second-place finishes in two years, he could win the race in a future edition. Alaphilippe noted in particular that his winter had been affected by
UCI World Tour standings
In the season-long 2016 UCI World Tour competition, Valverde moved up from 121st place to 22nd, Alaphilippe from 48th to 21st and Martin from 21st to 10th. There were no other changes in the top ten of the riders' rankings however. The top ten of the nations' rankings was similarly unchanged, but, in the team rankings, Etixx–Quick-Step moved up from eighth to fourth, with Movistar moving from sixth to fifth.[24]
Rank | Rider | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Peter Sagan (SVK) | Tinkoff | 329 |
2 | Alberto Contador (ESP) | Tinkoff | 280 |
3 | Richie Porte (AUS) | BMC Racing Team | 222 |
4 | Sergio Henao (COL) | Team Sky | 204 |
5 | Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) | LottoNL–Jumbo | 201 |
6 | Nairo Quintana (COL) | Movistar Team | 178 |
7 | Fabian Cancellara (SUI) | Trek–Segafredo | 166 |
8 | Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) | BMC Racing Team | 162 |
9 | Arnaud Démare (FRA) | FDJ | 137 |
10 | Dan Martin (IRL) | Etixx–Quick-Step | 126 |
References
Sources
- La Flèche Wallonne 80e édition: Livre de Route [La Flèche Wallonne 2016 80th edition: Roadbook]. Issy-les-Moulineaux: Amaury Sport Organisation. 2016.
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d Fotheringham, Alasdair (19 April 2016). "La Fleche Wallonne 2016: Preview". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ a b c Roadbook 2016, p. 7.
- ^ Roadbook 2016, p. 3.
- ^ "UCI Cycling Regulations: Part 2: Road Races page 110 article 2.15.127" (PDF). Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- ^ a b c "New climbs added to Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Flèche Wallonne". Cyclingnews.com. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Roadbook 2016, p. 9.
- ^ "La Flèche Wallonne (start list)". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ a b Benson, Daniel; Fletcher, Patrick (20 April 2016). "UCI opens biological passport case against Sergio Henao". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- Competitor Group, Inc. 17 April 2016. Archived from the originalon 19 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "Your essential guide to the Ardennes Classics (video)". Cycling Weekly. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 18 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ a b Clarke, Stuart (18 April 2016). "10 riders to watch at La Flèche Wallonne". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- Competitor Group, Inc. Archived from the originalon 20 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "La Flèche Wallonne (preview)". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ Ryan, Barry (19 April 2016). "Gilbert at La Flèche Wallonne more in hope than expectation". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ^ "La Flèche Wallonne (result)". ProCyclingStats. 20 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d Rogers, Neal (20 April 2016). "Valverde takes a fourth Flèche Wallonne title as Alaphilippe again finishes second". CyclingTips. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "La Flèche Wallonne: Valverde wins on the Mur de Huy". Cyclingnews.com. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Fletcher, Patrick (20 April 2016). "Suspected broken collarbone for Fränk Schleck after Flèche Wallonne crash". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Windsor, Richard (20 April 2016). "Alejandro Valverde takes third consecutive victory at La Flèche Wallonne". Cycling Weekly. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- Competitor Group, Inc. Archived from the originalon 23 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (20 April 2016). "Valverde moves into class of his own with fourth La Flèche Wallonne victory". Cyclingnews.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Ryan, Barry (20 April 2016). "Alaphilippe: My first feeling was one of disappointment". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ Ryan, Barry (20 April 2016). "Dan Martin: I went into the Mur de Huy believing I could win". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ a b "UCI WorldTour Ranking - 2016". uci.ch. Union Cycliste Internationale. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.