"This Classic is always nervous, always a lot of crashes. Luckily I didn't crash today."

Those were the words of Astana's Luis Leon Sanchez after the mid-week Ardennes one-day classic Fleche Wallonne. No Astana Pro Team riders crashed during a race filled with nervous riders falling on narrow roads.

Sanchez attacked with four other riders in the final 30km and stayed away with one final companion to put pressure on rival teams and allow his teammates to conserve their strength in the peloton. Teammates Michele Scarponi and Vincenzo Nibali rode at the front just as the peloton caught Sanchez and counterattacked to create more opportunities in the last two climbs.

"We tried to attack with Luis Leon Sanchez," Nibali told Rai Sport. "On the final climb, I was in a good position with Scarponi and Fuglsang, but on this terrible wall it is difficult to make a difference. As for me, the condition is good: I tried to attack on the penultimate climb because it was the longest but I could not make a difference. I am good though." 

"I was not on a great day," Scarponi said. "It was a nervous Fleche and I often had to return after being blocked by several crashes. There are riders that are more suitable to this race than us but we tried to split the field."

Jakob Fuglsang finished the long, final climbers' sprint up the Mur de Huy in 9th, four seconds behind repeat winner Alejandro Valverde of Spain.

"Overall I think it was okay," Fuglsang told CyclingQuotes after the race. "I don't think the legs were great but I am satisfied. It is my best result in Flèche Wallonne and it is better than expected so I am optimistic.

"I you look at the profile, Liege suits me well. I don't expect a super result but I hope that the form is good.

"I am looking forward to Liege and on paper it suits me better than Fleche. So I expect to do something. I will try to be there in the finale and I expect to be in the top 10. That's what I hope for - and hopefully it will be even better. But we have to see how the race develops.

"In the Amstel Gold Race and in Fleche Wallonne, I have proved that I am in good condition."