Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) has claimed victory at La Flèche Wallonne after he and Primoz Roglic (Jumbo Visma) were streets ahead of their rivals up the finishing Mur de Huy.
It was Roglic who took it up first, going from a very long way out on the climb and getting a yawning gap on what remained of the peloton, which numbered about 50 riders.
As he pulled away, young British rider Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), who was on the front of the group at the time, tried to make a move but was unable and had no impact on the leader's gap as the finish line neared.
Alaphilippe and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) then went after Roglic as Pidcock faded a little; the 21-year-old's finishing effort below par and a reminder he is still very new to these long hard races.
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While Valverde also struggled in the last 200 metres, Alaphilippe fought his way onto Roglic's back wheel. When the world champion caught the Vuelta champion Roglic looked around and appeared to be surprised he had company.
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Roglic then tried to kick again for the finish line to win the race but Alaphilippe was simply stronger and had more riding left in him, timing his effort brilliantly and dancing his way to the win.
He crossed the line celebrating his victory, with Roglic just beside him in 2nd place. Six seconds then passed before Valverde came through for 3rd place, with Michael Woods (Israel Start-Up Nation) in 4th at eight seconds.
Warren Barguil (Arkéa Samsic) was next, in 5th place and at 11 seconds, with Pidcock just behind him in 6th place and on the same time.
Eddie Dunbar was the only Irish rider in the race and as Ineos Grenadiers relied on him to do some chasing after the breakaway earlier in the day he was a non finisher today.
More to come.
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