Quick-Step Floors’ Julian Alaphilippe won the 198.5km La Fleche Wallonne, which finished in Huy, Belgium, today.
The Frenchman completed the race in 4:53:37, beating Movistar Team’s Alejandro Valverde (Spain) by four seconds. Lotto-Soudal’s Jelle Vanendert (Belgium) rounded out the podium.
Julian Alaphilippe, pictured here at the Tour de France two years ago, won the La Fleche Wallonne in Belgium today. Photo: Photo Credits
Alaphilippe was grateful to have won the race ‘third time lucky’. “It’s the third time I’ve ridden and the third time I’m on the podium, this time as a winner,” he said after the race.
“I thought each time I could do it. I worked really hard to win this. I couldn’t hear the raido very well, so I didn’t know all of what was happening in front.
I knew Nibali was up there, and I just want to thank my teammates for their help.”
The race was “hard”, Alaphilippe added. “The race was hard from the morning and hard on the legs.
“I like thes harder parcours, it was tough in the finale, and I’m just really happy.”
View more results below.
1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra) Quick-Step Floors 4:53:37
2. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team +0:04
3. Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Soudal +0:06
4. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Mitchelton-Scott
5. Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
6. Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo
7. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Soudal
8. Maximilian Schachmann (Ger) Quick-Step Floors
9. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
10. Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe +0:12
