Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost) put in a flawless, and supremely confident, ride at La Flèche Wallonne (1.UWT) today, though world champion, Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was simply in a league of his own on the Mur de Huy.
Indeed, Pogačar's finishing surge on the wall of a climb to the finish started so early, and was so complete, he broke the record on the climb and enjoyed the biggest winning margin - of 10 seconds - at the race for over two decades.
Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) was in the remains of the peloton before UAE Team Emirates-XRG ramped up the pace inside the final 10km on a sodden day out. And though he was among a section of that field that never made it back to the front group when the race split with about 5km to go, he finished the 205km race in 34th at 1:25.
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Healy was ever-present in the first section of the bunch and made all the splits on the run in to the finish as Pogačar's team split the field; Jan Christen and Brandon McNulty pressing on and making things difficult for everyone.
Healy is not a rider suited to the climbing-sprinting effort at the finish of this race and he played his cards as best he could today. He eased his way to the very front of the group on the base of the Mur de Huy, ensuring he could go long with his final effort.
That was always going to be his best bet, and so it came to pass; Pogačar pulling the trigger very early and simply surging clear of the others, with Healy then riding his own pace to the top from that point.
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Though he was passed by three other riders, Healy took a 5th place finish; a sign he is in superb form ahead of Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.
Despite Healy putting in an impressive finish, some of those better-suited to the massive injection of power required for the climb passed him before the finish. Kévin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) repeated his 2nd place finish of last year, at 10 seconds, with Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) placing 3rd, at 12 seconds.
Then came the young Frenchman, Lenny Martinez (Bahrain-Victorious), the 21-year-old just besting Healy in the battle for 4th and 5th, with that pair finishing on the same time, some 13 seconds down.
Though Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep) rode well, and was close to Healy when Pogačar attacked, he went backwards as the road kicked up and had to be content with 9th place, some 16 seconds back.
"He leaves the best bike riders in the world for dust!"
Tadej Pogacar stamps his dominance on the Mur de Huy! #FlecheWallonne pic.twitter.com/SJOo0eR0T4— SBS Sport (@SBSSportau) April 23, 2025
