The 2025 Northern Classics season is about to experience its last two major events. The first is tomorrow's Flèche Wallonne. Among the starters will be the last 5 riders capable of writing their name in the golden book: Julian Alaphilippe (1st in 2018, 2019 and 2021), Marc Hirschi (2020), Dylan Teuns (2022), Tadej Pogacar (2023) and Stephen Williams (2024). In total, 9 cyclists at the start have already been on the podium, including Ulissi, Skjelmose, Vauquelin and Van Gils.

Pogacar is the favorite and if he triumphs, he would be the seventh to win the Flèche Wallonne in the world champion jersey. So far, only the Swiss Kubler in 1952, the Belgians Van Steenbergen in 1958, Merckx in 1972 and Criquelion in 1985, the Australian Evans in 2010 and the Frenchman Alaphilippe in 2021 have succeeded. The Slovenian superstar aims to repeat the Tour of Flanders - Flèche Wallonne double already achieved in 2023 (a combination also accomplished by Italian Argentin in 1990), while Skjelmose would be the fifth to win in the same year at Amstel and Flèche, as done only by Italians Rebellin and Di Luca in 2004 and 2005, Belgian Gilbert in 2011 and Pogacar in 2023.

Spaniard Valverde with 5 victories and 9 total podiums is the greatest performer of all time in this race, while Belgium with 39 wins and 108 podiums leads the nations ranking. For Italy, out of 88 editions, there have been 18 successes. The first was signed by Fermo Camellini in 1948, the last remains the one celebrated in 2009 by Davide Rebellin (already winning in 2004 and 2007). In total, 43 Italian podiums.

Source www.ciclopico.it - full article and other statistical curiosities at the link https://ciclopico.it/altre-corse/gare-internazionali/favoriti-freccia-vallone-2025/