The Mur de Huy with its treacherous gradients of 20% is ready to launch the challenge for the 29th edition of the Flèche Wallonne which, as always, promises to deliver spectacle. The route follows tradition, 148.2 km without a moment's respite from the Grand Place in Huy to the summit of the famous wall. Last year it was Puck Pieterse who raised her arms to the sky ahead of Demi Vollering, bringing Dutch victories to 14. The record for most successes belongs to Anna Van Der Breggen who managed to win seven consecutive times from 2015 to 2021, just behind her is Marianne Vos with five victories. There are four Italian successes, three signed by Fabiana Luperini and the last one with Marta Cavalli in 2022.

After the start from the center of Huy, the peloton will ride for a short flat section before tackling the Côte de Bohissau (2.2 km, average gradient of 5.5%) located just 10.5 km in. In the first part of the race, riders will then face the Côte de Courrière (1.4 km, average gradient of 7%) and the Côte de Durnal (2.3 km, average gradient of 4.6%). The race will intensify in the final circuit of 37.2 km to be repeated twice; in order, riders will tackle the Côte d'Ereffe (2.1 km, average gradient of 5%), the Côte de Cherave (1.3 km, average gradient of 8.1%) and finally the Mur de Huy (1.3 km, average gradient of 9.6%). It is precisely on this terrible final climb that the winner of the Flèche Wallonne is usually decided.

On paper, it could be an all-Dutch battle as happened last year between Puck Pieterse and Demi Vollering. Between the two, Vollering is the most favored with a victory at the Tour of Flanders and third place last Sunday at the Amstel Gold Race, but above all with a very strong team. FDJ United arrives at the start with all the odds in their favor, supporting the Dutch star will be Juliette Berthet, Elise Chabbey and Evita Muzic, all very strong athletes. Puck Pieterse will have Sara Casasola and Yara Kastelijn on her side. Staying in the Netherlands, Anna Van de Breggen returns to her beloved race and as always will be a feared opponent, alongside her will be Nienke Vinke and Valentina Cavallar who is starting her 2026 season today. Kasia Niewiadoma won on the Mur de Huy in 2024 and after second place at the Amstel Gold Race has shown she has recovered well from her crash at Milan-San Remo. Among the athletes to keep an eye on are certainly Pauline Ferrand Prevot who won the Flèche in 2014 and is on her ideal terrain, world champion Magdeleine Vallières with Noemi Ruegg, Liane Lippert, Ashleigh Moolman Pasio tackling her favorite race. In the UAE Team ADQ camp there could be multiple cards to play starting with Paula Blasi, winner of the Amstel Gold Race, Mavi Garcia, Maeva Squiban and the Italian pair Erica Magnaldi – Greta Marturano. Among the ranks, let's not forget the presence of Monica Trinca Colonel who, when the road goes uphill, is always there.