The wall of hopes

April 20 ^th 2026 - 18:48

• The 90th edition of La Flèche Wallonne is one of the most open in recent years, with a multitude of contenders for a first victory. Revenge-seeking runners-up, Benoît Cosnefroy (2020), Mattias Skjelmose (2023) and Kévin Vauquelin (2024-25) are aiming for the top step of the podium.
• The start list reveals the presence of three former winners: Julian Alaphilippe (2018-19-21), Marc Hirschi (2020) and Dylan Teuns (2022), the last Belgian to be crowned on home soil.
• Although Paul Seixas is making his debut in the Ardennes classics, the 19-year-old Frenchman is already among the favorites, arriving freshly crowned with his first World Tour victories.

The succession of two-time winner Tadej Pogacar is open. Three former winners are nevertheless present – Dylan Teuns (Cofidis), Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and his teammate Marc Hirschi – with the desire to animate the race, but there is a strong chance of seeing a new rider become the 68th winner of La Flèche Wallonne. UAE Emirates XRG are counting on Benoît Cosnefroy to secure a third victory in four years. The Frenchman dreams of a win that slipped away by a handful of meters in 2020 (2nd), then by 3 seconds in 2024 (4th). His two podium finishes in three days at La Flèche Brabançonne (3rd) and the Amstel Gold Race (3rd) testify to his convincing form. But to raise his arms on Wednesday, he will have to defeat some of the rivals who finished ahead of him last Sunday. Among them is another former runner-up in Huy: Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek). The winner of the Amstel Gold Race 2025 was denied the double in a sprint yesterday, nevertheless finishing second. Second place was also his position at La Flèche Wallonne 2023, before abandoning in 2024 (frozen) and 2025 (crash).

While Skjelmose did not see the finish in the last two editions, Kévin Vauquelin inherited his runner-up status by finishing 2nd twice. The Frenchman hopes to break the curse after finishing one bike length behind Stephen Williams in 2024, then 10 seconds behind “Pogi” last year. He has the opportunity to capitalize in Huy on his strong start to his first season with Ineos Grenadiers, marked by a Top 10 in his three stage races contested (5th in Algarve, 4th at Paris-Nice, 10th in the Basque Country). What better way to erase the disappointment experienced at the Amstel Gold Race (50th), where a crash prevented him from carrying out his plan?

While the Belgian climbs suit Vauquelin’s qualities, this is also the case for his compatriot Lenny Martinez (Bahrain Victorious). The punchy nature of the finale allowed him to shine last year (4th). The young climber has since progressed and gained in maturity. This was evident on Stage 8 of Paris-Nice (victory against Jonas Vingegaard), or at the Tour of Catalonia (2nd). Martinez will find on his path Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United), who finished 7th twice in Huy. The puncher from Besançon has just collected 4th places at Strade Bianche, at La Flèche Brabançonne and the Amstel Gold Race. He adds his name to the very extensive list of French outsiders, perhaps actually led by the rapidly rising talent Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team).

An impressive winner of the Tour of the Basque Country, Seixas became the first Frenchman to win a World Tour stage race since Christophe Moreau in 2007, 19 years ago. 19 is also his age, making him one of the youngest participants. His lack of experience did not prevent him from impressing in the Basque mountains, at the Tour of the Algarve (2nd), at the Ardèche Classic (1st) and at Strade Bianche (2nd). He has simply performed in every outing in 2026. Winning at his first participation, as Hirschi did in 2020? The characteristics of the finale – a relatively short climb where attacks generally start late – are not necessarily to his advantage. But other scenarios are possible. And it would not be the first time that Seixas sets his crowd alight.

In the absence of Remco Evenepoel, who is preparing for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, his teammate Daniel Martinez inherits leadership at Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe. A status that will allow the runner-up of Paris-Nice 2026 to play his card in Huy, where he finished 5th in 2022. At Visma-Lease a Bike, the crash of Matteo Jorgenson at the Amstel Gold Race makes Jorgen Nordhagen the new leader. A role that the young Norwegian, who is gaining experience, takes on four days after finishing 2nd on the demanding Galician slopes of O Gran Camino. His compatriot Tobias Johannessen (Uno-X Mobility) could also have his say, having finished 6th in Huy in 2024. And why not a surprise in Belgium? Anders Foldager (Team Jayco AlUla) reminded everyone that they should never be ruled out in cycling by winning La Flèche Brabançonne ahead of Quinten Hermans (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), two riders at the start in Herstal on Wednesday. The Australian team also showed itself at the front of the Amstel Gold Race thanks to Mauro Schmid (6th), who will be its leader here.

25 teams, the main participants    

Australia
Team Jayco AlUla : Foldager (DNK), Schmid (CHE)  

Bahrain
Bahrain Victorious : L. Martinez (FRA), Bilbao (ESP), Mohoric (SVN)  

Belgium
Alpecin-Premier Tech : Glivar (SVN)
Team Flanders - Baloise : Van Hemelen, Lanhove (BEL)
Lotto-Intermarché : Zimmermann (DEU), Van Eetvelt (BEL)
Soudal Quick-Step : Paret-Peintre (FRA), Van Wilder, Vervaeke (BEL)  

France
Cofidis : Teuns (BEL), Aranburu, Izagirre (ESP)
Decathlon CMA CGM Team : Seixas, Bisiaux, Lapeira (FRA)
Groupama-FDJ United : Grégoire, Costiou, Martin-Guyonnet (FRA)
TotalEnergies : Le Berre, Vercher (FRA)
Unibet Rose Rockets : Venturini (FRA)  

Germany
Red Bull - Bora - Hansgrohe : Hindley (AUS), Fisher-Black (NZL), D.Martinez (COL)
Lidl-Trek : Skjelmose (DNK), Verona (ESP)  

Great Britain
Ineos Grenadiers : Vauquelin, Godon, Laurance (FRA)  

Kazakhstan
XDS Astana : Champoussin (FRA), Scaroni, Ulissi (ITA)  

Netherlands
Team Picnic PostNL : Barguil (FRA), Van den Broek (NLD)
Team Visma-Lease a Bike : Nordhagen (NOR), Tulett (GBR)  

Norway
Uno-X Mobility : T.H. Johannessen (NOR)  

Spain
Movistar Team : Uijtdebroeks (BEL), Romeo, Adria (ESP)
Caja Rural-Seguros RGA : Barcelo (ESP)  

Switzerland
Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team : Hermans (BEL)
Tudor Pro Cycling Team : Alaphilippe (FRA), Hirschi (CHE)
NSN Cycling Team : Bennett (NDL), Lutsenko (KAZ)  

United Arab Emirates
UAE Team Emirates XRG : Cosnefroy, Sivakov (FRA), Wellens (BEL)  

United States
EF Education - Easypost : Baudin (FRA)