Racing the Flèche Wallonne will represent something like the realization of a childhood dream for Clément Chevrier.  The young rider from the Picardy region in France will start the race for IAM Cycling next Wednesday in the streets of Waremme. 

“The Flèche Wallonne is one of those races that got me on the bike,” Chevrier recalls.  “I remember when I was a kid, I watched the race every year and all the guys who ended up winning it were great champions for me.” 

Among those great champions of the day who established themselves at the top of the Mur de Huy is a man who is no stranger to Chevrier or his preparations for his appearance in this WorldTour event.  Rik Verbrugghe won Flèche in 2001, and now happens to be the sports manager for the IAM Cycling team.  He has been following the progress of the 22 year old Chevrier. 

“I raced the Tour of the Basque Country, which I do really believe is the best preparation for the Ardennes classics,” Chevrier admits.  “I followed the advice of Rik Verbrugghe and Eddy Seigneur.  I was a little sick during the race in Spain, but then I resumed training with some light sessions, and I really recovered well.  And when you look at the results list of the Flèche Brabançonne, it is clear that those who raced in the Basque Country placed further at the top of the standings, so that’s encouraging.”
 
The riders will need every ounce of courage in order to swallow the 205.5 kilometer race which includes three ascents of the formidable Mur de Huy.  Thus the page is turned from the Flanderian races in favor of the Ardennes campaign.  The cobbled sections will soon be supplanted by the courses for punchy riders.  Decided at the top of the Mur, which has a gradient at times of 26%, the finish of the 79th edition of the Flèche Wallonne will crown a rider who knows how best to harness and use his explosiveness. 

“The percentages of the final wall may even suit my strengths,” Chevrier explains. “But the 1.3 kilometer is too short for me.  The same difficulty, but on a longer climb would be better for me.  Rarely does a rider with my size and light weight prevail in Huy.  We have seen often enough that it is usually the very explosive riders who are able to raise their arms in victory at the top.”  

Line-up:

Clément Chevrier (F)
Dries Devenyns (Bel)
Mathias Frank (S)
Jonathan Fumeaux (S)
Pirmin Lang (S)
Jarlinson Pantano (Col)
Sébastien Reichenbach (S)
Larry Warbasse (USA)