It only takes a few minutes, but that’s usually what it takes to figure out who takes the dub at Flèche Wallonne. It all comes down to the finale on the Mur de Huy.

The 2025 edition was, in the end, brutally simple. Tadej Pogačar waited, watched and then rode away on the Mur like he was on a different gradient entirely. This year, no Pogi, but there are plenty of stars racing in both the men’s and women’s. Last year, we saw Puck Pieterse take a big win after just recently switching full time to the road.

Evenepoel vs. Seixas?

For the men, this year, the 200-km route shifts slightly with a start in Herstal, but the finale stays familiar. Same for the women. Three laps around Huy. Côte d’Ereffe, Côte de Cherave, and then the Mur. Again, and again, and again. They will race 148.2 km in total.

There shouldn’t be any long-range heroics. The roads into Huy are wide, the climbs not quite selective enough. It almost always comes down to another reduced group hitting the Mur together. From there, it’s about who dares to go first… and who can hold it. Or, who can make a move in the final hundred metres. It’s just a brutal, brutal finish.

The spotlight naturally falls on Remco Evenepoel, but there’s a new name in the mix: Paul Seixas. What can’t this French prodigy do? He’s already impressed this year, and he is clearly no longer the Next Big Thing. He is one of The Big Things. Dane Mattias Skjelmose finished second behind Evenepoel at Amstel—maybe he will have the kick up the Huy? He’s a great climber on these punchy little things, and we know he can sprint. Start lists should be finalized by Tuesday, but so far one Canuck: Alpecin-Premier Tech’s Hugo Houle. He raced both Amstel and Brabantse Pijl, and will also do Liège–Bastogne–Liège.

A day for Vallières Mill?

The women’s start list is also being finalized, but expect the same big names we saw at Amstel. One Canadian who could have a big day is world champion Magdeleine Vallières Mill. Although Liège may suit her more due to the attritional nature of it all, she will definitely be in the mix at Flèche with the punchy finish. Does she have the kick up the Huy to take the dub? TBD. She may go early, as opposed to waiting until the final few 100 metres.

You’ll be able to watch both Flèche and Liège on Flobikes.com and Canadian Cycling Magazine will have reports on both races in both categories. Raise a glass to the legbreaker known as the Mur de Huy: santé!

Men’s route:

Women’s route:

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