Huy (Belgium), 17 April 2024 – La Freccia-Vallone 2024 proposes a startlist without several heavy hitters, including the reigning winner Tadej Pogacar, but also of the unexpected difficulties given that it is late spring: the group, particularly in the first part of the race, has to deal with wind, rain and even snow, factors that contribute to gradually cutting other potential protagonists out of the game. The second stage of Ardennes Triptych it therefore becomes the perfect terrain for a surprise and in fact it is the winner Stephen Williamsa name unknown to most but not to those who had already noted the victories of Tour of Croatia 2021 he was born in Tour Down Under 2024. The BritishIsrael-Premier Tech he had already shown himself leading the chase himself Soren Kragh Andersen, who remained in advance scouting for a long time while the group was dealing with adverse weather conditions. The weather then becomes more forgiving and first the Dane ofAlpecin-Deceuninck and then the entire Norwegian battery ofUno-X Mobility they are in trouble. At that point the last of the four passages on the terrible takes care of settling the dispute Mur de Huytamed with extreme profit by Williams: they complete the podium Kevin Vauquelin And Maxim Van Gilsother names not of the highest level in a race lacking in satisfaction for the Italians, with Davide Formolo24th, as best place, e Luca Vergallito with the best until the penultimate lap. For the latter, which emerged from the competition announced annually by the platform Zwift after abandoning the world of racing for several years, the result still remains heartening: a different matter for Andrea Bagioliamong the disappointments of the day together with Tom Pidcock And Mattias Skjelmose.
The news
Shortly after a mechanical problem slows down Christian Scaroni (Astana Qazaqstan Team), the good breakaway starts from the group, composed of Lilian Calmejane (Intermarché-Wanty), Alan Jousseaume (TotalEnergies Team), James Whelan (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Txomin Juaristi (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Igor Chzhan (Astana Qazaqstan Team) e Johan Meens (Bingoal WB), while Aaron Van Der Beken (Bingoal WB) stays halfway before getting back up. The pacesetters approach the first wall of the day, the Cote d’Yvoir (2.2km with an average slope of 5.6%) with an advantage of 4’30”. The first real jolt to the race is given by the bad weather: the hail and above all the wind launch the acceleration of theUAE Team Emirateswith Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) among the first illustrious victims. The first step on the Mur de Huy (1.3 km with an average slope of 9.6% and maximum of 17%), which will be climbed four times for the first time, makes you break away from the breakaway Jousseaume after that previously already Chzhan, Whelan And Meens they seemed to be on the hook. While the news of the withdrawal of Mathieu Burgaudeau (Team TotalEnergies), lose contact from the group of the best other possible potential protagonists such as Mauri Vansevenant (Soudal Quick-Step), Michal Kwiatkowski (Ineos Grenadiers), Alexander Vlasov (Bora-Hansgrohe) e Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ). The second climb to Cote d’Ereffe (2.1km with an average slope of 5.6% and maximum of11%) issues other sentences: elements such as remain delayed Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech), Benoit Cosnefroy (Decathlon AG2R The World Team), Mattias Skjelmose, Andrea Bagioli (Lidl-Trek) e Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike). In this climate of anarchy, in light of the many luxury defections, he tries to escape Soren Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), which Nicolas Prodhomme (Decathlon AG2R La Difesa Team) tries to imitate but without profit. Meanwhile, the attack of the first hour ends, with Juaristi And Meens to give up last. Halfway between the pacemaker and the group he places himself Markus Hoelgaard (Uno-X Mobility), which however is filmed on Cote d’Ereffeon which he shows himself with a shot David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ). After the descent Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step) tries to surprise a group from which he also slips away Bauke Mollema (Lidl Trek). Just before the third pass on the Mur de Huy it shows up Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost): in the lead, at the start of the last lap of the circuit, there is always an excellent Kragh Andersenwhich barely loses 15” on the main climb of the race. The name you don’t expect comes as a surprise, Stephen Williams (Israel-Premier Tech), which he brings with him Richard Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost), Kevin Vauquelin (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Santiago Buitrago (Bahrain Victorious) e Maxim Van Gils (Dstny Lot). The situation crystallizes for a long time like this, with a quintet in pursuit of Kragh Andersen in turn in the group’s sights, pulled byUno-X Mobility: the second chase is successful and everyone therefore has the objective of catching up with the distant Dane 20”. In the surviving squad of the best, composed of 36 unitsthere are only two Italians: Davide Formolo (Movistar Team) e Luca Vergallito (Alpecin-Deceuninck). On the last step on the Cote d’Ereffe the march ofUno-X Mobilityin numerical superiority over the other teams, cancels the attempt Kragh Andersen, whose action curiously lost power when the weather conditions improved. The penultimate altitude difficulty of the day slips away without any jolts until the last, decisive, passage on the Mur de Huy: after a long study phase, the first to leave is Williamsthe surprise of the day, which resists the return from the rear of Vauquelin And Van Gils and goes on to win the Walloon Arrow.
Arrival order Freccia Wallone 2024
1) Stephen Williams (IPT) in 4h40’24” 2) Kévin Vauquelin (ARK) st 3) Maxim Van Gils (LTD) +3” 4) Benoit Cosnefroy (DAT) +3” 5) Santiago Buitrago (TBV) ) +3” 6) Tobias Halland Johannessen (UXM) +10” 7) Romain Grégoire (GFC) +10” 8) Dorian Godon (DAT) +10” 9) Tiesj Benoot (TVL) +10” 10) Guillaume Martin Guyonnet (COF) +10”
Tags: Freccia Wallone surprise Williams wins order arrival
