All classifications
| 1 | Davide REBELLIN |
| 2 | Alejandro VALVERDE |
| 3 | Danilo DI LUCA |
| 4 | Matthias KESSLER |
| 5 | Riccardo RICCO |
| » overall rankings » Best climber classification |
Starters' list | Time schedules
The race
Wednesday 25 April 2007Charleroi > Huy - 202.5 km
The newsflashes
16:14Top Five
1- Rebellin (GST)
2- Valverde (GCE)
3- Di Luca (LIQ)
4- Kessler (AST)
5- Ricco (SDV)
Rebellin wins it
For the second time of his career after 2004, Davide Rebellin conquers the Fleche Wallonne.
16:12Rebellin in the lead with Kessler
Davide Rebellin takes off in the lead followed by Mathias Kessler.
16:10Last kilometre
FInal kilometre of the 71st Fleche Wallonne and Joaquin Rodriguez has been caught. It’s explanation time between all the favourites.
16:09AG2R chases
A bunched pack led by the AG2R group is now chasing race leader Rodriguez with under 2 km to go...
16:08Rodriguez still in the lead
With three kilometres to go, Rodriguez hangs on to his lead. He has a 15" advantage over a bunched pack.
16:05Rodriguez alone in the lead
Joaquin Rodriguez takes off and currently leads the race on his own with 6 km to go. The Spaniard has a 13" lead over the Valverde, Kirchen and Di Luca and 30" over the main field.
16:02Four together on the lead
With under ten kilometres to go four men are currently in the lead: Valverde and Rodriguez (GCE), Kirchen (TMO) and Di Luca (LIQ). They have a 18" over the pack.
15:59Valverde reacts
A counter attacking group including Valverde and Popovych is currently 6" behind the front five while the pack is at 20".
15:57Now five in the lead
The leading two have been caught by the Di Luca group. Now in the lead: Cobo, Kirchen, Di Luca, Ivanov and Rodriguez with 12km to go.
15:56Di Luca attacks
One the race favourites Danilo Di Luca (LIQ) has just broken away from the pack alongside Rodriguez (GCE) and Kirchen (TMO). Meanwhile Cobo and Ivanov remain in the lead.
15:53Ivanov caught by Cobo
Juan José Cobo has just caught up with leader Serguei Ivanov. The pack remains 20" adrift.
15:52Cobo 18" behind
With 15km to go Serguei Ivanov has a 18" lead over Cobo and 30" on the main field.
15:52Ivanov in penultimate climb
Serguei Ivanov is climbing up the penultimate climb of the day, the Côte de Ahin (top at km 188) and is losing time on the chasing pack. The gap has dropped to 25" while Juan José Cobo breaks away in a counter-attacking position.
15:46Ivanov still in the lead.
With just over 20km to go, Serguei Ivanov has a 25" advantage over the chasing pack.
15:42Ivanov alone in the lead
Russia’s Serguei Ivanov has taken control of the race, breaking away with under 25 kilometres to go.
15:33Pack together again...
With 30 kilometres to go, Philippe Gilbert and his first followers have all been caught by a pack led by the Liquigas team.
15:30New race situation
With 32km to go, Gilbert has a 18" lead over three men: Efimkin (BAR), Rodriguez (GCE) and Kessler (AST). The pack is 35" behind.
15:2819 riders chasing Gilbert
With 34 kilometrs to go, Philippe Gilbert still leads the race with a 30 second lead on a group including Lopez Garcia, Rodriguez, Rojas (all GCE), Astarloza (EUS), Sorensen (CSC), Rogers (TMO), Spezialetti (LIQ), Kessler (AST), Camano, Cobo Acero (both SDV), Vasseur (QSI), Van den Broeck (PRL), Popovych (DSC), Pineau, Voeckler (both BTL), Caruso (LAM), Moreni (COF), Fofonov (CA), Vanendert (JAC) and Petrov (TCS).
15:21Vasseur caught, Gilbert attacks
Cedric Vasseur has been caught by a group of around 20 riders and immediately after Philippe Gilbert (FDJ) has managed to take off.
15:19Vasseur carries on alone
Frenchman Cedric Vasseur has carried on his effort alone with 40km to go. All the other riders have been caught by the pack. The main field is now 20" adrift.
15:17Verdugo caught by a counter attacking group
Former leader Gorka Verdugo has been caught by a group of counter attacking riders including: Lopez Garcia (GCE), Andy Schleck (CSC), Rogers (TMO), Camano (SDV), Vasseur (QSI), Mertens (PRL), Lovkvist (FDJ), Voeckler (BTL), Vila (LAM), Duque (COF) Fofonov (CA) and Petrov (TCS).
15:11Four hills to go
Km 160.5: Côte de Bonneville;
km 172.5: Côte de Bohisseau;
km 188: Côte de Ahin;
km 202.5: Mur de Huy.
New race situation
In the climb up the Côte de Thon (top at km 152.5) Verdugo leads with a 50’ lead over a four man group including De Schrooder, Lopez Garcia (GCE), Camano (SDV) and Mertens (PRL). The pack is at 1’30.
15:05A third man in the counter attack
This is the race situation: one man alone in the lead, Gorka Verdugo followed now by three riders, Bichot, De Schrooder and Pieter Mertens (PRL) and then the pack.
15:00Bichot caught by De Schrooder...
After failing to follow race leader Gorka Verdugo, Freddy Bichot has now been caught by De Schrooder (CHO). Both men are 50" behind while the pack is at 1’35 at kilometre 148.
14:55Verdugo alone in the lead
At kilometre 145, Gorka Verdugo (EUS) has taken off alone. Bichot fails to follow. He’s now 20" adrift. Counter-attacking rider De Schrooder (CHO) is 55" behind while the pack is 1’20 off the leading pace.
14:44Only two in the lead
Only two men remain in the race leadership at the top of the Côte de Peu d’Eau: Bichot and Verdugo.
14:44Le Mevel dropped behind
In The climb up the Côte de eu d’Eau, Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel fails to keep up with his breakaway companions. He’s dropped and is soon going to be caught by the pack, 35" adrift now.
14:41Fall for Freire
Rabobank leader and one of the race favourites Oscar Freire has just been caught in a fall with Tim Klinger (GER)... Nothing too serious however. Both riders are back on their bikes.
14:38Under 2’ for the front men
A few attempts are ocurring in the pack. After Axel Merckx (TMO), Cristophe Moreau (A2R) has tried to break away. And up front the four leading men are struggling. The gap has gone under the 2’ mark: now 1’25 at 132.
14:36Eric Boyer (Cofidis): "Extremely tough conditions."
With just under 70 kilometres to go, Letour.fr caught up with Cofidis manager Eric Boyer. "The conditions are extremely hot. It’s stormy out there and the riders have been drinking a lot of water. I’ve never seen such conditions in April. I’ve the feeling that the riders are taking it a lot easiser. They’re not as crazy."
14:30Still dropping...
The four front men are still working well together but there’s not a lot they can do against a hungry pack. The gap carries on dropping: 2’10 at km 127.
14:24Rosny stops his effort
Ivan Rosny (TIN) has stopped his effort and is back in the main bunch. The front men now have a 2’50 lead over the pack at km 126.
14:16Race situation
Bichot, Le Mevel, Verdugo and Loosli now have a 2’50’’ lead over Rovny, and 3’25’’ on the pack.
14:09New attempt
At km 110, a rider has just broken away from the pack: Russia’s Ivan Rovny (TIN). Meanwhile the gap between the front men and the pack has dropped down to 4’.
14:01Bettini bluffing ?
Seeing Paolo Bettini (QST) in the last positions of the pack, Letour.fr gave his Quick Step sporting director Serge Parsani a phone call to find out how his leader was doing. "Indeed he’s in the last places of the pack.... But have no worries, he’s fine. We should certainly hear about him in the final part of the race!"
13:54Halfway through
The pack has just covered half the distance of the day’s race (101kms). The gap has dropped down to 4’25.
13:50Gap drops to 4’30
The pack has just made it to the top of the Mur de Huy with a 4’30 deficit on the front riders. In the first two positions of the pack: Hiekmann (GER) and Van Huffel (PRL). Interesting information: World champion Paolo Bettini (QST) was in the last few positions of the pack.
13:43Leaders at top of the Mur for the 2nd time
The four leading riders (Verdugo, Bichot, Loosli and Le Mevel) have just cleared the Mur de Huy for the second time of the day (at km 97.5). Again Freddy Bichot made it first at the top ahead of Le Mevel, Verdugo and Loosli.
13:32Bichot and Le Mevel already victorious
Of the four leading riders, two have already claimed major successes. Christophe Le Mevel captured a stage of the 2005 Giro d’Italia, while Freddy Bichot won the Etoile de Bessege GC as well as a stage that same year.
13:29Gap drops to 5’
At the top of the second climb of the day, the Côte d’Ereffe, the gap between the leaders and the pack has dropped down to 5’. First at the top was again Frenchman Freddy Bichot (AGR).
13:27Average speed
The distance covered during the second hour of racing: 40.2kms. The average speed since the start this morning in Charleroi: 43.8 km/h.
13:21Pack led by Caisse d’Epargne
The pack led by Alejandro Valverde’s Caisse d’Epargne team mates is slowly closing in on the front riders. At kilometre 80, the gap is of 5’40.
13:16Emmanuel Hubert (Agritubel): "Going as planned this morning"
Speaking to Letour.fr from his race car, Agritubel sporting director Emmanuel Hubert gives us news on his rider in the break, Freddy Bichot. "It was planned this morning during our briefing. The goal was to have a rider in the first break to show our jersey. Freddy Bichot was one of our options. He attacked several times. He’s in a rather good shape and had the will to attack. Now with the pack chasing we’re well aware that the front men won’t make it clear to the finish. Bichot’s goal now is to grab as many climber’s points as possible and at least win something. We then have other options in the team like Benoit Salmon who finished 13th last year or Eduardo Gonzalo. Concerning Juan Miguel Mercado, he’s only been back on a bike for two weeks now after injuring a knee."
13:01Pack at top the Mur
The gap has dropped down as the pack reaches the top of the Mur de Huy led by Failli (LIQ). The front riders now have a 5’50 advantage.
12:54Front men at the top of the Mur
The four leading riders have reached the top of the Mur de Huy for the first time today. Freddy Bichot (AGR) made it first at the top just a few metres ahead of Le Mevel (CA), Verdugo and Loosli. Latest gap : 6’50.
12:41The pack not too concerned
At kilometre 54, the pack doesn’t look too concerned - yet - by the four front riders. The gap has indeed reached 7’10. The leaders are about to climb the Mur de Huy for the first of the three times today. Top of the first climb at km 65.5.
12:315’ for the leaders
While the pack is currently at km 48 in Bierwart, the front riders are enjoying a 5’ gap in the lead.
12:26Average speed
The distance covered during the first hour of racing: 47 kilometres. Meanwhile the four leading riders (Verdugo (EUS), Bichot (AGR), Loosli (LAM) and Le Mevel (C.A)) have a 3’20 lead over the pack.
12:21Looking good for the front men
The gap is seriously growing between the four leading riders and the pack. At kilometre 44, it has reached 2’05.
12:18And another attempt
At kilometre 40, four men have managed to break away: Verdugo (EUS), Bichot (AGR), Loosli (LAM) and Le Mevel (C.A). And this time it looks like it could last. Indeed quite a few riders in the pack have stopped for natural reasons. The gap is slowly growing: 45".
12:14Bunched pack
Despite an attempt on behalf of Frenchman Christophe Moreau (AG2R), the pack at a very high pace remains bunched at km 35.
12:10Previous Ten winners of the Fleche Wallonne
2006: Valverde (SPA)
2005: Di Luca (ITA)
2004: Rebellin (ITA)
2003: Astarloa (SPA)
2002: Aerts (BEL)
2001: Verbrugghe (BEL)
2000: Casagrande (ITA)
1999: Bartoli (ITA)
1998: Hamburger (DEN)
1997: Jalabert (FRA)
Four in the lead...but caught
At kilometre 25, four riders broke away: Bichot (AGR), Sprick (BTL), Moerenhout (RAB) and Edaleine (C.A). Yet again the pack closed the gap and managed to catch the front men a few kilometres later.
12:01Francis Lafargue (Caisse d’Epargne): "Valverde is in excellent shape"
Member of the Caisse d’Epargne management, Francis Lafargue spoke to Letour.fr about his leader and title holder Alejandro Valverde. "One thing is for sure, he’s in excellent shape. In the final part of the Amstel Gold Race he was under control and a lot of riders were expecting him to react to Schumacher’s attack. But he preferred to reach the final straight in a little group rather than taking off on his own. If there are around ten riders together at the bottom of the Mur de Huy, he has good chances of winning again."
11:53End of break
The leading five riders have been caught by a pack led by the Rabobank team at kilometre 22. The Dutch team is of course working for its leaders Oscar Freire and Thomas Dekker.
11:50New attempt
At kilometre 18, three riders have managed to break away: Hugo Sabido (BAR), Niki Terpstra (MIL), Paul Maning (LAN). These three have been caught by two other riders: Inigo Landaluze (EUS) and Didier Rous (BTL). At km 20 the leading 5 have a 10’ lead over the pack.
11:43Fast pace
The pack that remains bunched has reached km 13 in Onoz. Very fast pace so far since the start of the event.
11:35Christian Henn (Gerolsteiner): “Three riders for victory”
Just before the start of the race we spoke to Christian Henn, Team director of Gerolsteiner. After Stefan Schumacher’s success last Sunday on the Amstel Gold Race, the German team will again be counting on their powerful rider but also on the likes of Rebellin and Wegmann. “We can count on three riders for victory : Davide Rebellin, Stefan Schumacher and Fabian Wegmann. But this race isn’t like the Amstel Gold Race or Liège-Bastogne-Liège. It’s a lot shorter with more action during the whole race. It’s also more open straight from the start. We aren’t only concerned by the riders but also by what the other teams will do. Of course, we have to keep an eye on riders like Di Luca, Bettini and Freire. It’s always the same game. The final climb up the Mur de Huy is maybe more suited for a rider like Rebellin. He’s only 61kilos. Schumacher is 10 kilos heavier.”
11:34End of break
Only a few kilometres in the lead for the three escapees... The front men are back in the pack again.
11:33Three in the lead
Just after km 3, three riders have managed to take off: Freddy Bichot (AGR), Morris Possoni (LAM) and Paul Manning (LAN).
11:31Still bunched
Despite numerous breakaway attempts, the pack remains bunched at km 3 in the village of Farciennes.
11:26Off they go!
The 189 riders have officially started the race at 11:25 PM. Perfect conditions for what promises to be a fantastic event.
11:25Blood tests this morning
This morning the sporting safety commission of the UCI asked 47 riders to go through blood tests between 7:00 and 9:00 PM. Six teams were concerned: Quick Step, Astana, Predictor-Lotto, Française des Jeux, Landbouwkrediet and Barloworld. All the riders were cleared to start the race.
11:22Riders on their way to the start
189 riders are currently heading to the official start of the Fleche Wallonne. Only one rider failed to start: Gusev (DSC). They will first have to ride 4.6km through the streets of Charleroi before the real start.
11:08202.5km on the day
This 71st edition of the Fleche Wallonne is 202.5km long. The course has been slightly changed. The riders will witness two extra climbs and will have to go up the famous Mur de Huy on two occasions before reaching the finish and a final climb. Eleven climbs will have to be covered. Km 65.5: Mur de Huy; km 84.5: Côte d’Ereffe; km 97.5: Mur de Huy; km 115: Côte de Pailhe; km 137: Côte de Peu d’Eau ; km 142.5: Côte de Haut-Bois; km 152.5: Côte de Thon; km 160.5: Côte de Bonneville; km 172.5: Côte de Bohisseau; km 188: Côte de Ahin; km 202.5: Mur de Huy.
10:35Welcome to the Fleche
Bright sunny weather conditions in this part of the World (at the top of the famour Mur de Huy). Welcome to the 2007 edition of the Fleche Wallonne. Live coverage of the race will start at 11:15 when the riders take off from Charleroi for their 202.5km ride.