Dan Martin (UAE Team Emirates) has come very close to winning the Belgian classic La Flèche Wallonne on a number of occasions, having finished second in both 2014 and 2017. In addition, he has also finished in third place (2016), fourth (2013) and sixth (2012).
The Irishman lines up again tomorrow as one of the favourites, and one of the men standing in his way will be five-time winner Alejandro Valverde. The Spaniard has won the race on the three occasions when Martin has taken a podium place and will once again be the man to beat. This season he has already taken numerous wins including overall victory at the Volta a Catalunya, the Abu Dhabi Tour and the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
The 198.5km-long race starts in Seraing for the first time and the riders will take on eleven climbs including the Côte d’Ereffe and Côte de Cherave. Despite the chellenging parcours, the race will in all likelihood be decided on the final ascent of the iconic Mur de Huy.
The race has finished on the 1300m-long climb since 1983 and the result is usually decided in the closing metres of the climb which averages 9.6% but ramps up to 25% in some sections.
Below is footage from various editions of the race when Dan Martin has been a contender.
2013
2014
2016
2017
