Wanty-Groupe Gobert wanted to repeat the good performance of the opening race of the Ardennes triptique. Team leader Enrico Gasparotto was joined by Simone Antonini, Francis De Greef, Mirko Selvaggi, Boris Dron, Yannick Eijssen, Marco Minnaard and Jérôme Baugnies in the Flèche Wallonne.

Baugnies was part of the day's breakaway. Straight from the beginning he attacked with Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) and Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise). The trio were later joined by Daniele Ratto (Unitedhealthcare), Reinier Honig (Team Roompot), Mike Teunissen (Team LottoNL-Jumbo) and Brice Feillu (Bretagne-Séché). The seven leaders gained a maximum lead of seven and a half minutes.  

"It was a good breakaway with strong guys," Baugnies said. He proved to be one of the strongest up front by arriving on the Mur de Huy first. 

"Unfortunately it was the penultimate time and not the final," he smiled. "I attacked and didn't know how the others were feeling. Apparently I was the least tired." 

Only Thomas De Gendt managed to follow Baugnies. At 25 kilometres from the line they were joined by Giovanni Visconti and Luis Leon Sanchez but at 13 kilometers from the finish it was game over for the runner-up of last weekend's Tour du Finistère.

In the final Enrico Gasparotto, safe from mechanicals and crashes, attacked the Mur. The Italian finished 15th. 

"It was tough on the parts with the steepest gradients but I felt good throughout the day. Maybe I spent a little bit too much energy during the day to avoid the crashes but in the end I'd rather be 15th in Flèche Wallonne than on the ground in a crash. I am happy with my shape and ready for Liège."