The Ardennes classics continued today as the peloton took on some mid-week racing at La Flèche Wallonne and its famous finish atop the steep Mur de Huy. It was a fast start to affairs as the riders left Blegny this morning, with lots of attacks before a breakaway eventually managed to form out front after 30 kilometres of action, with all Team DSM riders in the peloton; conserving energy for the climbs to come.

As the kilometres and climbs ticked by those ahead were slowly reeled in and the bunch slowly whittled down in size. Heading into the final local lap of 30 kilometres, the team did well to bring Søren Kragh Andersen into a good position, as the peloton climbed the Côte d’Ereffe and Côte de Cherave for the last time. It would be over the top of the latter climb that Kragh Andersen would make his move, putting in a powerful attack and a daring ascent to go clear of the bunch. Giving it everything to try and stay away, the peloton didn’t give Kragh Andersen too much leeway and despite his best efforts, he was caught inside the flamme rouge as the stinging slopes of the Mur de Huy began to bite; before pushing on all the way to the line.

“Today we tried to get into the break but didn’t manage that,” explained Kragh Andersen. “After that, the guys did a really good job to help me for as long as possible during the race. I was really happy to be able to make an action in the final, even though it didn’t work out in the end. We’re happy about the feeling and how we raced today and we’re looking forward to Sunday. We’ll keep fighting.”

Team DSM coach Wilbert Broekhuizen added: “We wanted to be in the break but didn’t make it so we were a bit disappointed by that. After that in the middle part of the race the guys worked well together and positioned Søren as we well as we could towards the final. Søren did a good attack over the the Cherave and he was a bit unlucky that Vansevenant didn’t want to work with him. If he also had three or four guys with him, then we had a chance to do something, but in the end it didn’t pay off for us. Anyway, we gave it a good try and it’s a good investment going into the weekend.”