GOING DOWN IN HISTORY

January 18 ^th 2022 - 12:00

By setting up camp in Blegny, the sixteenth town to host its start, the Flèche continues its grand tour of Wallonia with charming hat-tips to its history. First of all, its industrial and social history, by kicking off the race at a mining site that has been turned into an attractive, vibrant museum inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Then, the history of cycling, as Blegny is home to the venerable and dynamic Royal cyclist's Pesant club liégeois, which was founded in 1891 and is the coorganiser of Liège–Bastogne–Liège. And, finally, the history of a rich and fertile land. While the riders may not have enough time to give its specialities a try, they will no doubt take in the scent of the brewery and cheese factory of Val-Dieu Abbey, one of the most renowned in the country, when they blast past it in the Aubel sector.

Granted, they will already have a lot on their plates with the sporting menu. For starters, there will be the Tancrémont and Les Forges climbs, the latter of which remains accessible along the east-west axis despite the refurbishment works carried out following the devastating flooding of last July. The main course will naturally be the now traditional final circuit on which the difficulties will be raised to the power of 3: the Côte d'Ereffe, the Côte de Cherave (back on the course) and the Mur de Huy as a dessert. Julian Alaphilippe, who has his sights firmly set on Alejandro Valverde's record five wins, has already munched down on the race three times since 2018, including last year. Who can stop the two-time world champion from also going down in history? Expect a lively debate.

Christian Prudhomme