Another feat, another notch, another great victory: Tadej Pogacar conquers the Fleche Wallonne for the second time in his career two years after his 2023 win. A sharp attack from far away (for the Wall, starting 800-900 meters from the finish line means really attacking from far), prepared thanks to a perfect forcing by UAE Emirates XRG, an acceleration that broke the resistance of his opponents, first and foremost Remco Evenepoel.

Pogacar signed his sixth personal victory of the season - the 94th of his career - preceding Vauquelin by 10", a French rider from Arkéa - B&B Hotels, again second a year later, and 12" ahead of British Pidcock who brought Q36.5 to the third step of the podium. Remco Evenepoel finished the race in ninth place while Davide Formolo ended in sixteenth place, being the best Italian at the conclusion of the 205 kilometers scheduled.

THE RACE. Started under a gloomy sky, the Fleche Wallonne 2025 came to life immediately after the start thanks to the action promoted by Simon Guglielmi, 27-year-old French rider from Arkéa - B&B Hotels; Artem Shmidt, a 2004 American in INEOS Grenadiers jersey; Ceriel Desal from Wagner Bazin WB; Tom Paquot from Intermarché - Wanty and Siebe Deweirdt from Team Flanders - Baloise. Breaking away from the group at the third kilometer, the escapees faced the Cote de Ver, the first difficulty of the day with an advantage of over 2 minutes from the peloton.

Around the 60th kilometer of the race, the peloton, led by Tudor, UAE Team Emirates - XRG, Soudal Quick-Step and Lidl Trek, reacted by getting very close to the attackers and, courageously, Tobias Foss (INEOS Grenadiers) launched himself in pursuit of the breakaway along with Australian Robert Stannard (Bahrain - Victorious). Ten kilometers later the regrouping succeeded, and thus the attackers became seven while the peloton was reported 1'10" behind.

With the Côte de Petite Sommes on the horizon, two Uno X men came out of the peloton: Fredrik Dversnes and Andreas Leknessund while at the same time Siebe Deweirdt, visibly tired, detached from the leading group and unable to keep up with the two Norwegians, was caught by the main group.

When 99 kilometers were left to the finish line, eight men were at the front: Dversnes and Leknessund had completed the pursuit just before starting the first Côte d'Ereffe. Arriving at the foot of the Mur de Huy for the first time, the breakaway group lost a member: Tom Paquot (Intermarché - Wanty) surrendered and was quickly caught by the group. At the head of the race remained Guglielmi, Stannard, Dversnes, Leknessund, Foss, Shmidt and Desal with a one-minute advantage over the group.

At the end of the second climb of the Côte d'Ereffe, Guglielmi raised the white flag letting the six companions continue. The group was at that moment reported 45" behind the head of the race. Facing the Côte de Cherave, Robert Stannard and Artem Shmidt detached and shortly after, due to a crash, the breakaway group also lost Ceriel Desal. At the same point, Mattias Skjelmose, Patrick Konrad and Julien Bernard from Lidl Trek, who were in the middle of the group with a delay of a few seconds, also fell. Initially back in the saddle, the Dane was forced to abandon the race.

At the head of the competition remained the three Norwegians Dversnes, Leknessund and Foss who stubbornly led until seven kilometers from the finish but then failed to counter the great pace set by the men of the Emirati formation busy preparing the final solo of the champion Slovenian.

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FINISH ORDER

1. Pogacar Tadej (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) in 04:50:15
2. Vauquelin Kévin (ARKEA-B&B HOTELS) + 10
3. Pidcock Tom (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) + 12
4. Martinez Lenny (Bahrain Victorious) + 13
5. Healy Ben (EF Education-EasyPost)
6. Buitrago Santiago (Bahrain Victorious) + 16
7. Grégoire Romain (Groupama-FDJ)
8. Nys Thibau (Lidl-Trek)
9. Evenepoel Remco (Soudal Quick-Step)
10. Schmid Mauro (Team Jayco-AlUla) + 19