Behind Pogacar, Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) finished second ahead of Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). The two other podium riders were ten and twelve seconds behind the world champion, who - as relaxed as he started, as playfully as he left his rivals behind - looked more marked than ever before.
As in the past, the decision was only made on the last of the 205 kilometres in the legendary Mur de Huy, which celebrated its 40th anniversary as the finish of the Walloon Arrow in 2025. However, no presents were handed out. Although the weather was not as bad as a year ago, it still rained for long stretches of the race.
Many observers had expected an early attack from Evenepoel (Soudal Quick-Step). The Belgian had let his team work for a long time, but then decided not to attack. When Pogacar set off on his winning ride, the double Olympic champion was right on his wheel. However, 400 metres later he was 16 seconds behind and finished ninth behind the secret favourite Thibau Nys (Lidl - Trek). His team-mate Mattias Skjelmose, who was also considered to have a chance, crashed on the second of three finishing laps and did not reach the finish.
Pogacar: "Great hill, but as a professional you still don't like it"
It was Pogacar's second victory in his fifth appearance. He had also won his last appearance on the Mur in 2023. "I had a pretty good feeling and it's nice to have won here again on this difficult climb," said Pogacar. "It's a great hill, but as a professional cyclist you still don't like it that much. The weather wasn't great again either, so it was a really tough race. To finish it with the win means a lot to me."
The German pros played no role around Huy. Michel Hessmann (Visma | Lease a Bike) was the best finisher in 71st place, three and a half minutes behind. The Swiss did better. Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco AlUla) finished tenth, Jan Christen (UAE Emirates - XRG) 13th.
La Flèche Wallonne 2025 - Results
La Flèche Wallonne: Ciney - Huy
La Flèche Wallonne 2025: La Flèche Wallonne, Ciney - Huy
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAE Team Emirates - XRG | 04:50:15 |
| 2 | Arkéa - B&B Hotels | +00:00:10 |
| 3 | Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | +00:00:12 |
| 4 | Bahrain - Victorious | +00:00:13 |
| 5 | EF Education - EasyPost | +00:00:13 |
| 6 | Bahrain - Victorious | +00:00:16 |
How the Flèche Wallonne 2025 went
Unlike last year, when the Flèche Wallonne was held at desolate weather conditions the Belgian spring meant at least a little better for the peloton this time. Although it didn't stay dry this time either, there was no snow, hail or temperatures around freezing point.
And so Artem Shmidt (INEOS Grenadiers), Ceriel Desal (Wagner Bazin WB), Simon Guglielmi (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Tom Paquot (Intermarché - Wanty) and Siebe Deweirdt (Team Flanders - Baloise) went on the run right after the start in Ciney. Although the quintet was rather unknown, the peloton allowed the lead to grow to barely more than two minutes. Evenepoel's Soudal Quick-Step Team set the pace at the back.
Norwegians dominate most of the race
As the gap quickly shrank to less than half a minute, Tobias Foss (INEOS Grenadiers) and Robert Stannard (Bahrain - Victorious) launched a counter-attack from the peloton and made it to the front. There were still around 130 kilometres to go. Just in time for the first of three sections of the final circuit, the two Norwegians from Uno-X Mobility, Frederik Dversnes and Andreas Leknessund, also made it to the front after a kilometre-long battle. The breakaway's lead: 1:30 minutes.
When the race climbed the Mur de Huy for the first time 75 kilometres before the finish, both the group and the peloton struggled to stay together. While seven men came over the wall together at the front, Pogacar's UAE Emirates Team reduced the peloton enormously.
After the second crossing of the Cote de Cherave, a good 40 kilometres before the finish, only the three Norwegians Dversnes, Leknessund and Foss were still ahead of the peloton. Desal, who had made it over the crest, crashed in a bend after the descent. At the same spot 40 seconds later, several pros from Soudal and Lidl slipped away - including Amstel winner Mattias Skjelmose, who had to abandon the race as a result. Shortly afterwards, the bell rang at the top of the Mur de Huy for the final lap, on which the Norwegian trio took a 14-second lead.
No attack from Evenepoel
They made it to the foot of the Cote de Cherave seven kilometres before the finish. There, UAE took command. Jan Christen got in front of the small remaining group of favourites and, without a real attack, ensured that it became even smaller. But there was no decision, the expected Evenepoel attack failed to materialise - again the Mur had to take care of it.
Ben Healy (EF Education - EasyPost) was the first to twitch 400 metres before the finish. But shortly afterwards, Pogacar turned round briefly, accelerated and was no longer seen. Within a few metres, the gap had opened up and it was all about second place. Even Vauquelin in second place, ten seconds behind, reached the finish relatively unchallenged. Evenepoel, on the other hand, was outsprinted by half of the leading group and struggled to make it into the top 10.
