CYCLING – Team Bahrain Victorious are set to compete today in the 89th running of the mid-week Ardennes classic, La Fleche Wallonne, in Belgium.
This year, the peloton faces a demanding 205-kilometre course stacked with 11 climbs and over 3,100 metres of elevation gain. It all builds towards a triple ascent of the Mur de Huy; the infamous brutal 1.2km ‘wall’ averaging a 9.6 per cent gradient, with pitches hitting 22 per cent. As ever, it will be the ultimate decider in a race where timing, teamwork, and tenacity make the difference.
This year, Bahrain Victorious line up with a team built for depth, balance, and late-race impact. Lenny Martinez, fresh from altitude training and eyeing bigger goals later this spring, will lead the squad to the punishing final ramps.
Backing him are a trio of punchy climbers, including Pello Bilbao, Santiago Buitrago, and Edoardo Zambanini, each of whom is capable of lighting up the final 50km himself, should the right moment arise.
In the earlier phases, Mathijs Paasschens, Robert Stannard, and Roman Ermakov will control the race and set the tone, with the aim of ensuring that Bahrain Victorious stay in touch when it matters most.
A key change this year is the return of the Cote de Cherave, positioned just before the final Mur ascent. Its comeback adds a tactical twist, offering teams an opportunity to shake up the race before the final showdown.
The Le Fleche Wallonne is a one-day elite men’s road race that is a part of the 2025 calendar of the Union Cycliste Internationale World Tour.
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