World Champion and two-time winner of the race Julian Alaphilippe will lead the team at Wednesday’s Classic.
After nine years, Flèche Wallonne returns to its traditional start point, Charleroi, for the 85th edition taking place this week. The 194km route will take in twelve climbs, including three ascents of the iconic Mur de Huy (1.3km, 9.7%), and even though it’s likely the winner will emerge again on the punishing slopes of the day’s last hill, attacks could come earlier as shown by what happened at the recent editions.
One of the only five riders in history to have racked up consecutive wins at Flèche Wallonne, Julian Alaphilippe will continue his spring campaign at the Belgian Classic, where he finished on the podium at all his four previous participations. Mauri Vansevenant, who last year impressed at his debut there, joining the breakaway and staying at the front until with four kilometers to go, will also be in action, three days after impressing everyone with the tenacious ride he produced at Amstel Gold Race.
Joining them on Deceuninck – Quick-Step’s line-up for the penultimate World Tour one-day race of the spring will be Mattia Cattaneo, Josef Cerny, Dries Devenyns, Mikkel Honoré and James Knox.
“We have a solid line-up for Flèche Wallonne, a race where the team proved in the past that it can do very well, with Julian – who won or was always up there at all his participations – and Mauri, who we all remember what an impressive debut he had last year. It’s a strong field at the start, containing many riders who’ll want to get a good result, so it won’t be easy. As was the case in the past, everything should be decided the last time up the Mur de Huy, although attacks could come earlier, on the local laps, meaning we need to be focused and pay attention to these moves”, said Deceuninck – Quick-Step sports director Klaas Lodewyck.
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