“I regularly stop here during my coffee rides (Editor’s note: recovery exits) et I sympathized with them”, smiles the Intermarché-Wanty rider, whose good nature is recognized by everyone in the peloton and outside. “Soon you will have to stop in front”, smiled Edward. “We're moving in a few weeks across the street to a bigger, more spacious place. La Flèche wallonne will be a sort of farewell party in our old premises.”
The magic word was launched: the Walloon Arrow. It's the race of the year, in Huy. And it is also the most special for Tom Paquot, who lives in Braives, less than 20 kilometers from the finish. “I had to wait until April to run my first race in Belgium but I am happy that the team has placed their trust in me for the Flèche, he says with a big smile. For me, it's the most special race of the year. It takes place on my training routes, which I know by heart. I know where each hole is on the road and that allows me to be essential for the team, in my role as a teammate.”
Especially in the games where the leaders have to come back to position themselves. “I remember winning a stage at the Tour de Liège a few years ago. She arrived at my house in Braives. In each turn, I overtook ten riders just because I knew the course by heart. On the Flèche Wallonne, it's the same: I can ride with my eyes closed. This gives me a bit of a road captain role, which I appreciate. And that’s a responsibility. But I studied to be an educator and that fits my personality well: social and open with people.”
Advice from a pro
“You ride like a cyclo”
The 24-year-old rider walked his talk by inviting us to do our interview on the bike, for a better situation. With Bernard, one of the owners of the Mur, we therefore agreed to get on our bike to recognize the final 2024 circuit with the regional stage.
The meeting is set, in lycra, at the top of the Mur de Huy, to complete a complete tour of the 33 kilometer circuit which the peloton will cover three times. With the pedals barely clipped in, you can see the difference that can exist between a professional and an amateur from the first few kilometers. “Is it already hard? However, I am not even at my endurance pace”laughs Tom Paquot.
We then try to overplay a little to avoid bordering on the ridiculous. “It’s funny, you ride like a real cyclo”, he tells us. “130 watts on descents, and 350 on bumps. We have to try to be more consistent.”
We take the uppercut but we take the advice. Then we imagine ourselves in the race.
”From the top of the Mur to Strée, you just have to keep one idea in mind: keep the wheels of the guy in front, explains the former wearer of the best climber jersey on the Tour de Wallonie (2020). Cardio will definitely stay high, but that’s normal.”
The secrets of Hoyoux
“There are strategic places to relocate”
We are now a little reassured. And the descent towards Pont-de-Bonne is already arriving. Bernard takes the opportunity to show his descending skills to Tom. The speed is close to 75 km/h but the Intermarché-Wanty runner does not seem to be forcing himself. “This bike (Cube Litening AERO C: 68X) is so aero that it almost goes down on its ownhe smiles as he arrives in the Hoyoux valley. Here, there are 3.5 kilometers to reposition yourself, when you are in the peloton. This is approximately 4 minutes. It's a bit of a transition period where you shouldn't start to stress. As I know this valley well, I know that there are several strategic places to relocate as best as possible. But I won't reveal them (laughs).”
The secret will be well kept. And the Ereffe coast, the other difficulty of the circuit, is already looming. With its 2.2 kilometers at an average gradient of 5.5%, and its maximum slope of 9.8%, it already represents an effort for an amateur. Not for a professional. “You just have to be careful not to let yourself get lostcontinues Paquot. The hardest part is the flat area at the end. After the last left turn, there is still a bit of side wind and the restart hurts. Sometimes it can break.”
I have already accumulated more than 10,000 kilometers this year.
This will not be the case this time. With Bernard, we manage our effort in the wheel of Tom, who can discuss without difficulty. This is a little less the case for us. “But it makes sense, Tom reassures us, who has already completed almost 30 days of racing this season. I have already accumulated more than 10,000 kilometers this year. I am one of the riders who ride the most.” In terms of endurance, it's tough.
The descent from Grand-Marchin allows us to recover a little, before attacking the unlisted coast of Belle-Maison (700 m at 7% average, with a passage at 13%). “The descent road has been resurfaced, so you can take the turn at 70 km/h, tells us the one who took part in a breakaway on the Tour of the Basque Country two weeks ago. We therefore arrive well into the bump, which only hurts in its final part. But here, there are rarely any racing events because we dive straight back towards the Hoyoux valley.”
A real massive sprint before the Wall
“We’ll have to arrive in one piece…”
We are back in the valley after 2 kilometers of descent. “Here, on the last lap, you will have to be attentive to arrive in one piece, especially with the road improvements. We have seen in recent weeks, with the numerous falls, that the peloton had made emergency braking the norm, abandoning anticipatory braking. I therefore expect a real massive sprint before the foot of the Wall.”
Because a change of course compared to 2023 has been applied. “Before, we went to look for the Cherave coast in front of the hospital, but this year, the work in the center of Huy prevents us from doing so.specifies Paquot. For me, this is very good news because I hate Cherave (laughs). Instead, we will climb the Wall a fourth time in this 2024 edition. We therefore have a free carousel ride in addition (smile). And a fourth time the shivers in the Wall. So personally, I say thank you to the City of Huy for the work!”
Going up the Wall a fourth time is a free carousel ride.
Because the Mur de Huy is obviously the heart of the Fleche Wallonne. And the place that has always made the rider of the Intermarché-Wanty team dream. “When I was younger, I came to watch the race in the Wall every year, he remembers. And when someone asks me where I live, I always answer: not far from the Mur de Huy. It is the most famous point in our region and we should be proud of it.”
But don't think that the Braivois rides it every week. “Over the course of a year, I have to ride it three or four times, at most. But I remember doing intervals in it before, going up and down it five times in a row.”
Which inevitably allows you to have experience to share. “After the roundabout, you have to know how to make a good restart, just to arrive launched, then take a good breathsays Paquot. After a small slide, as I call it, the ascent really begins, lasting around 3 minutes 30 minutes. Until the Criquielion bend, there is still the possibility of managing your effort a little and after that, it's simply flat out. Everyone's legs hurt and the exercise becomes more mental than physical. Personally, it’s a lactic effort that I appreciate.”
And it's even more true on race day, when all his family and friends are at the side of the road cheering him on. “As a regional resident, it is true that my name is often shouted. It's the most special day of the year, for me. The only one in 365 days where I feel a bit like Tadej Pogacar”finishes the Intermarché-Wanty runner with a broad smile.
For our part, it is almost no longer possible to speak. “Are we going back down?” smiled Bernard.
The day ends as it began: over a good coffee at Mur Coffee & Cycling. Our favorite Wall, certainly.
