La Flèche Wallonne 2019: Alaphilippe outpowers Fuglsang on Wall of Huy

La Flèche Wallonne revolves around the Wall of Huy and for years Alejandro Valverde was the sole ruler on the Wall. Yet, Julian Alaphilippe takes over the baton. The Frechman won the race for the second year in a row after a fierce battle with Jakob Fuglsang. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results La Flèche Wallonne 2019

1. Julian Alaphilippe (fra)
2. Jakob Fuglsang (den) s.t.
3. Diego Ulissi (ita) + 0.06
4. Bjorg Lambrecht (bel) + 0.08
5. Maximilian Schachmann (ger) s.t.
6. Bauke Mollema (nld) s.t.
7. Patrick Konrad (aut) s.t.
8. Michael Matthews (aus) s.t.
9. Jelle Vanendert (bel) + 0.11
10. Enrico Gasparotto (ita) s.t.

Race report
Van Rooy, Rosskopf, Carpenter, Bouwman and Wirtgen are the breakaway boys. They race to a lead of almost 6 minutes before the peloton starts to bring the gap down.

Peter Sagan can’t follow the pace on the penultimate climb up the Côte de Cherave, while Adam Yates crashes out of contention a little later.

Shortly after the last passage over the Wall of Huy a group with Poels, Mas, LL Sánchez, Schachmann, Izagirre (Gorka) and Wellens gobble up the last attacker Rosskopf. Their attack is neutralised with 23 kilometres to go.

Tomasz Marczyński strikes before the Côte d’Ereffe and Matej Mohoric tracks him down. The duo is brought back on the Côte de Cherave and the peloton remains together until the Wall of Huy.

Jakob Fuglsang strikes on the steepest ramps and Julian Alaphilippe closes down the gap. It is clear the race boils down to a two-way battle as their rivals can’t follow. Alaphilippe comes around the Dane when the climb levels out in the last 150 metres to win the race. The Frenchman outguns Fuglsang just as he did earlier this spring in Strade Bianche. Diego Ulissi claims the final podium spot.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2019 La Flèche Wallonne.