(Huy) In rain, sleet and sometimes even snow, the surprising Stephen Williams overcame apocalyptic conditions to become the first Briton on Wednesday to win the Flèche Wallonne ahead of Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin.
“I love racing in this weather,” said, without laughing, the 27-year-old Welshman at the end of the best day of his life on a bike which, for almost everyone else, will have been one of the worst.
Having started under the sun, the Belgian classic, which generally ends in the last meters of the final ascent of the formidable Mur de Huy, was played much earlier this time, due to terrible weather, alternating with a deluge of rain. , gales and even a blizzard halfway through the race.
In the end, 130 runners, out of 174 at the start, gave up, freezing and displaying a face of the living dead, including several of the main favorites like Tom Pidcock, Mattias Skjelmose, Marc Hirschi, Juan Ayuso and David Gaudu, forced to postpone their ambitions. on Liège-Bastogne-Liège next Sunday.
“The rain was very cold, with even snow at times. The last 80 kilometers I was frozen, I didn’t think I would make the finish. It’s been a long time since I was in a state like that, I’m at the end,” reported Benoît Cosnefroy, fourth at the finish after having reacted too late to respond to the dazzling start, 300 meters from the line, of Stephen Williams, the man no one expected.
Already 27 years old, the Israel PT rider lost almost two years after a major knee operation in 2019. He also left feathers in the crushing of the B & B Hotels team that he was to join before that it does not go out of business at the end of 2022.
Eight French people in the top 15
“Today was my day. I watched this race so often on television and I dreamed of coming with good legs to try to win it. I’m on cloud nine,” said the Welshman who, thanks to the greatest victory of his career, continues to fly the colors of the Union Jack during this 2024 campaign.
On Sunday, Tom Pidcock had already become the first Briton to win the Amstel Gold Race, the first part of the Ardennes trilogy. On Wednesday, Williams opened the counter for his Majesty’s subjects on the Flèche Wallonne at 88e editing.
“I’m proud to be the first, it’s something that will stay with us,” he commented.
Behind the Welshman, the French achieved a superb group shot with eight riders in the top 15including Kévin Vauquelin (2e), Benoît Cosnefroy (4e), Romain Grégoire (7e), Dorion Godon (8e) and Guillaume Martin (10e).
“The French level has increased. With young people like Romain (Grégoire), Lenny (Martinez) or me, we all pull ourselves up. It’s a good spiral,” commented Vauquelin.
At almost 23 years old, the Normand confirms his good results since the start of the year, even if the Arkéa-B & B Hotels runner regretted, like Cosnefroy, having “waited a little too much in the wall “.
“I thought I could come back. But I was a little short. I was frozen. I messed up with my gears because of my frozen fingers. Obviously, I have a little regret. I had a unique opportunity (to win today). But it’s encouraging for Liège,” on Sunday, he stressed.
reference: www.lapresse.ca