La Flèche Wallonne 2017: Valverde powers to fifth win on Wall of Huy

This year's La Flèche Wallonne amounts to 204.5 kilometres, while the route takes in nine climbs to finish atop the Wall of Huy. Bob Jungels is the first to tackle the ultimate climb, but Alejandro Valverde takes control on the 'his' hill. He wins the race bike lengths ahead of Daniel Martin and Dylan Teuns. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results La Flèche Wallonne 2017

1. Alejandro Valverde (spa)
2. Daniel Martin (irl) + 0.01
3. Dylan Teuns (bel) s.t.
4. Sergio Henao (col) s.t.
5. Michael Albasini (swi) s.t.
6. Warren Barguil (fra) s.t.
7. Michal Kwiatkowski (pol) s.t.
8. Rudy Molard (fra) s.t.
9. David Gaudu (fra) s.t.
10. Diego Ulissi (ita) s.t.

Race report
Following a fast start Yoann Bagot, Nils Politt and Olivier Pardini jump clear at km 10, while Fabien Doubey, Romain Guillemois and Daniel Pearson re-join them after a long chase. The six riders race to a maximum lead of 6 minutes.

The peloton is 1’30” in arrears during the first passage on the Wall of Huy, while Pardini is the last rider to be reeled in on the Côte de Cherave. De Marchi goes on the counter-attack en hits the next climb up the Wall of Huy on his own. At the top he is 20 seconds ahead of the peloton. A little later Bob Jungels goes alone to bridge the gap. Then he forges on solo.

Jungels hits Côte de Cherave 51 seconds ahead of the pack, at the top his lead is down to 31 seconds.

The peloton tackles the last climb up the Wall of Huy seconds 22 behind Jungels and on the climb itself he is quickly caught.

Shoulder to shoulder the peloton rides up the Wall of Huy. David Gaudu is the first to jump, but he is brought back before Alejandro Valverde accelerates to leave his competitors gasping for air. Dan Martin comes in second, while Dylan Teuns pips Sergio Henao to finish in third in his home race.

Read about the route of La Flèche Wallonne 2017.