La Flèche Wallonne 2026: Route

Wednesday 22 April – La Flèche Wallonne is one of the most predictable races on the cycling calendar. This year’s route comes in at exactly 200 kilometres, featuring eleven climbs, with the Mur de Huy tackled three times. The race will undoubtedly be decided once again in the second half of the final ascent.

First published on 20 April

The riders clip in at Herstal and head towards the circuit around Huy via the Côte de Trasenster and the Côte des Forges, a climb well known from Liège–Bastogne–Liège. The local lap is 37.2 kilometres long and features three climbs: Côte d’Ereffe, Côte de Cherave and the Mur de Huy, all of which come in the second half of the loop.

Around halfway through the race, the riders enter the circuit and soon face the Côte d’Ereffe. It quickly serves up a 10% section before continuing steeply for another 1.5 kilometres, after which the climb levels off. Roughly 12 kilometres later, the Côte de Cherave throws in 1.5 kilometres at 8.1%.

The summit of the Mur de Huy lies 5.6 kilometres after cresting the Cherave. The climb rises for 1.3 kilometres at an average gradient of 9.6%. The first 400 metres are deceptively manageable, but immediately afterwards the road ramps up for 400 metres at 11%, followed by 100 metres at 17%. The gradient then refuses to dip below 14% for another 300 metres. Only in the final 100 metres does the suffering subside, with the slope easing to 6%.

After the first passage over the Mur, the riders complete two identical laps. As mentioned, the three climbs come in the second half.

It has been a long time since La Flèche Wallonne was decided anywhere other than on the final ascent of the Mur de Huy. Even title holder Tadej Pogacar, who also won in 2023, never considered deviating from the winning formula of waiting-waiting-waiting-and-waiting until the second half of the final climb.

Ride the route yourself? Download GPX Flèche Wallonne 2026.

La Flèche Wallonne starts at 11:30 and is expected to finish around 16:25 - both local times (CEST).For details, check the timings in the slideshow below this article; click the relevant box for specifications of each climb.