It\u2019s a wild midweek race that defines the Ardennes trio. A bunch of pros ride hard for hours, then it all explodes on the last climb. There\u2019s usually a selection before, but it still turns into a drag race up the Mur de Huy for the win.<\/p>\n
Good news for Canadian fans: there are eight Canucks on the start lists across both races.
On the men\u2019s side, Hugo Houle (Alpecin-Premier Tech) lines up again after racing Amstel Gold Race and Brabantse Pijl. He\u2019s joined by Michael Leonard (EF Education-EasyPost) and Pier-Andr\u00e9 C\u00f4t\u00e9 (NSN Cycling).<\/p>\n
2026 Fl\u00e8che Wallonne<\/p>\n
The women\u2019s field is where Canada is really stacked. Magdeleine Valli\u00e8res Mill (EF Education-Oatly) leads the group after a strong spring and will be one to watch on the Mur. She\u2019s joined by Olivia Baril (Movistar), Isabella Holmgren<\/a> (Lidl-Trek), Alison Jackson and Clara Emond (St Michel\u2013Preference Home\u2013Auber93), and Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike). Holmgren is still being carefully managed early in her season, with this only her third race day of the year.<\/p>\n As for Valli\u00e8res Mill, the Ardennes races are a big goal for her. She will be there in the finale of Fl\u00e8che, but the punchiness may suit someone like Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney or Demi Vollering more. The world champ will be in the mix, but Li\u00e8ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Li\u00e8ge, with its attritional nature, may suit her better for a big result. Either way, can we talk about how cool it is to have a Canadian in the rainbow jersey at all these races?<\/p>\n The Mur de Huy<\/p>\n The course is the same familiar pattern: C\u00f4te d\u2019Ereffe, C\u00f4te de Cherave, and then the Mur de Huy. Repeat, repeat, then it blows apart.<\/p>\n It almost always comes down to a reduced group hitting the final ramp together. From there, it\u2019s about timing, courage, and surviving the punishment to the line.<\/p>\n