Second appointment out of three of the Ardennes Triptych. Great show expected today on the Mur de Huy: the Freccia Wallone is on stage. The outgoing winner, Tadej Pogacar, is missing, but there is a luxury startlist that will certainly not make the Slovenian regret, with a very open prediction. Let’s find out the programme, route and favourites.
LIVE LIVE OF FRECCIA VALLONE FROM 11.35
PATH
198.6 kilometers starting from Charleroi and arriving on ramp better known. A novelty in the route this year: the Mur de Huy will face each other four times in total. After 100 rough, but not hard, kilometers with only the Côte d’Yvoir as a threat, here is the circuit. We start with the Cote d’Ereffe, 2.1 km at 5% which will put a lot of strain on the runners’ legs, before arriving at the symbol of the race, the Muro de Huy. An authentic ramp of only 1300 meters which however has deadly slopes. The average is 9.6%, but after 500 pedalable meters hell comes. The road becomes increasingly grim until it reaches the maximum peak of 17% 400 meters from the finish line, then remaining constant at 12% until the last hundred metres.
ALTIMETERY
FAVOURITES
UAE Emirates will not be able to bet on the defending champion Pogacar, but here is the name to replace the Slovenian: Marc Hirschi. He is obviously not as reliable as the winner of the last edition, but the Swiss has shown that he is in good form (second at the Amstel on Sunday) and has always performed well in these parts, also achieving success in 2020. The winner will challenge him of 2022, Dylan Teuns. After a year to forget, the Belgian from Israel – Premier Tech seems to have found the right path again and is proving it with results. Second to last year, perfect for this type of tear, brilliant in spring: we are talking about the Danish Mattias Skjelmose. The Lidl-Trek runner has prepared well for these events. Also watch out for Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), fresh from his triumph at the Amstel Gold Race.
FRECCIA VALLONE 2024 PROGRAM
Wednesday 17 April
Charleroi-Huy (198.6 km)
Departure time: 11.35am
Estimated arrival time: 4.25pm
FRECCIA VALLONE 2024: HOW TO FOLLOW IT ON TV AND STREAMING
Live: RaisportHD (channel 58 dgt, free-to-air) from 2.25pm; Eurosport 1 (Sky channel 210) from 2.30pm
Live streaming: RaiPlay from 2.25pm, Eurosport.it, Discovery+ from 12.45pm, DAZN, Sky Go, NOW from 2.30pm
Live text: OA Sports
Tags: times altimetry favorites Wall Huy supreme judge
