2018 La Flèche Wallonne

The 2018 La Flèche Wallonne was a road cycling one-day race that took place on 18 April 2018 in Belgium. It was the 82nd edition of the La Flèche Wallonne and the seventeenth event of the 2018 UCI World Tour.[2][3]

For the women's race, see 2018 Flèche Wallonne (women's race).

2018 La Flèche Wallonne
2018 UCI World Tour, race 17 of 37
Julian Alaphilippe, the race winner
Julian Alaphilippe, the race winner
Race details
Dates18 April 2018
Stages1
Distance198.5 km (123.3 mi)
Winning time4h 53' 37"[1]
Results
  Winner  Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) (Quick-Step Floors)
  Second  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) (Movistar Team)
  Third  Jelle Vanendert (BEL) (Lotto–Soudal)

During the third and final ascent of the Mur de Huy, Quick-Step Floors rider Julian Alaphilippe accelerated near the summit, overtaking race leader Jelle Vanendert (Lotto–Soudal) in the last 100 metres of the race and dropping him. Alejandro Valverde, who had won the last four editions for the Movistar Team, staged a late fight-back and almost caught Alaphilippe, but Alaphilippe was able to kick again in the final metres to increase his lead, to win by four seconds from Valverde. It was the biggest victory of Alaphilippe's career at that point, becoming the first French winner of the race since Laurent Jalabert in 1997.[4]

Teams

As La Flèche Wallonne was a UCI World Tour event, all eighteen UCI WorldTeams were invited automatically and obliged to enter a team in the race. Seven UCI Professional Continental teams competed as wildcards,[5] completing the 25-team peloton.

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

Result
The final podium (from left to right): Jelle Vanendert, Julian Alaphilippe and Alejandro Valverde.
Result[1][6]
Rank Rider Team Time
1  Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Quick-Step Floors 4h 53' 37"
2  Alejandro Valverde (ESP) Movistar Team + 4"
3  Jelle Vanendert (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 6"
4  Roman Kreuziger (CZE) Mitchelton–Scott + 6"
5  Michael Matthews (AUS) Team Sunweb + 6"
6  Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek–Segafredo + 6"
7  Tim Wellens (BEL) Lotto–Soudal + 6"
8  Maximilian Schachmann (GER) Quick-Step Floors + 6"
9  Romain Bardet (FRA) AG2R La Mondiale + 6"
10  Patrick Konrad (AUT) Bora–Hansgrohe + 12"

References
  1. "Classement de l'épreuve" [Race classification]. Tissot Timing (in French). Tissot. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. "UCI announces 2018 road calendar". Cycling News. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  3. "2018 UCI WorldTour calendar unveiled". Velon. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  4. Windsor, Richard (18 April 2018). "Julian Alaphilippe ends Valverde dominance with powerful victory at La Flèche Wallonne 2018". Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. UK. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  5. "La Redoute to feature in 2018 Fleche Wallonne route". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018. Cofidis, Delko Marseille Provence KTM, Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise, Fortuneo – Samsic, Vital Concept Cycling Club, WB Aqua Protect Veranclassic and Wanty – Groupe Gobert have been invited to Flèche Wallonne.
  6. Benson, Daniel (18 April 2018). "Alaphilippe wins La Flèche Wallonne". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
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