2003 was the last time a rider made it to the foot of the Mur de Huy solo and held on to win. Lotto-Soudal’s Tim Wellens, whose fans have painted his name all the way up the fabled climb, hopes to be the man to emulate Igor Astarloa from 13 years ago.

“I believe I’m capable of winning one of these Classics if I have a bit of luck, if the stars align and if everything comes together,” the 24-year-old told La Dernière Heure, hinting that he would again seek to anticipate the favourites at Flèche Wallonne by attacking ahead of the Mur de Huy.

“The Mur is a climb that should suit me, but in a race I’ve never climbed it with the best. Last year, I was caught at the base of the climb after my attack on the Cherave. I prefer to attack a bit earlier. I feel that if I want to win, I can’t wait for the final 300 metres, so I have to anticipate. The problem is to know where and when…”

Wellens was tenth in Amstel after a long attack and won the GP Montreal in 2015, showcasing his one-day class.