Spain’s Alejandro Valverde timed his finish to perfection to claim La Fleche Wallonne for a record fourth time on Wednesday.
The near 200km mid-week Ardennes Classic came down to a dramatic shoot-out up the 1.3km final ascent of the Mur de Huy, with Valverde seeing off Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe.
“This is really my race,” the 35-year-old Movistar veteran said.
Photo: EPA
Ireland’s Dan Martin, who had led briefly up the imposing hill, finished third, while Dutch rider Wout Poels finished fourth.
Valverde waited until the last 300m before launching his attack.
His compatriot Joaquim Rodriguez had already made an impressive lunge for victory, before he faded and was overtaken by Martin.
However, he would also be proven to have jumped the gun as Valverde delivered the coup de grace on the final stretch.
“I was feeling more nervous than normal, I did not want to miss out. I worked out the right distance to make my move,” Valverde said.
He went into the race sharing the record of three wins with four other riders, including Belgian great Eddy Merckx.
“It is historic for me. I think it is important to leave your mark on the history of such a race,” Valverde said. “But also to leave your mark on the history of cycling. This race is not the most insignificant on the calendar. I will still be here next year.”
Valverde, though, said his main aim for the season would come at next month’s Giro d’Italia.
“[My aim is] to be on the Giro podium while thinking about stage victories,” he said. “But I am aware that I will have some tough competition. Before that I will go to Liege-Bastogne-Liege [on Sunday] with genuine hopes of winning, although without risking my Giro participation.”
His love affair with the Fleche Wallonne began with his first success in 2006.
He then had to wait eight years for his next win in 2014, with the veteran Spaniard following up last year when Alaphilippe also filled the runner-up spot.
“My initial feeling when crossing the line was disappointment at having come close to winning,” Alaphilippe said. “But then I realized it is my second podium finish in two participations. It is a race I can win in the future.”
Despite working together, Alaphilippe and his Etixx-QuickStep teammate Martin could not find a way to defeat Valverde.
“We really wanted to win. We thought that Julian Alaphilippe could go faster than Valverde close to the summit,” Martin said. “I had to try with 300m [left], but Valverde was just the best.”
Briton Stephen Cummings had sparked a breakaway after 55km and was the last left of that group with 27km to race.
However, he only lasted another 10km before Movistar reeled him in, setting up Valverde for his moment of glory.
Before the race began, Sergio Henao of Colombia was withdrawn by Team Sky due to anomalies in his biological passport.
Sky have withdrawn Henao for a three-month precautionary period and insisted he had not failed a doping test.
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