”When we see how he started, far from the finish, at the last passage of the Mur de Huy, Stephen Williams was the most explosive of this reduced peloton. He's a puncher, he had already won this season at the Tour Down Under. His victory is therefore not a surprise, even if he is not the best known to the general public. He seemed to plateau in the last meters but he was able to resist. He must have had a lot of confidence in himself to produce his effort so far from the line. With what he showed on the Flèche wallonne, we can expect to see him again at the front, Sunday, in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”
The runners went through hell during this Flèche Wallonne: “I had ice cubes in my mouth”
2. Maxim Van Gils confirms again
”After his good Ardennes classics campaign last year and after having confirmed at the start of the season with his third place at the Strade Bianche, Maxim Van Gils once again responded to the Flèche wallonne. With this podium, this third place. It's not a victory, but it's also important for a young person like him to obtain these places of honor. To continue its development. And continue to believe in victory. Because Van Gils can hope to one day win at the top of the Mur de Huy. He extended his contract with Lotto Dstny until the end of 2026. He progresses there every year, he can play his card there. It’s positive for the future.”
3. An atypical Arrow with this weather
“We saw a Walloon Flèche that was really different from other years. It hasn't been the usual waiting race. The cold and rain doomed many favorites. The Flèche wallonne arrives a few days after the Amstel Gold Race. Not all runners have necessarily recovered from the Dutch classic. And when there's such weather, you can feel like your legs are even heavier. And break your morale. Unlike certain runners, who feel stronger in these very particular conditions, they resist the cold better. They have morale. This context led to a much more offensive race than usual. It really caused a fight on the local circuits. Stephen Williams, the future winner, had also launched a solid movement on the penultimate climb of the Mur de Huy.”
