Ardennes Classics: La Fleche Wallonne betting preview, tip, and TV details

Race starts 9.30am Wednesday
TV: Eurosport 2, from 1.30pm

Wednesday signals the midway point of Ardennes Classics week with the rolling test of La Fleche Wallonne.

World champion Alejandro Valverde has made the Walloon Arrow his own down the years, winning five titles including on four consecutive occasions from 2014 to 2017.

The Spaniard was dethroned by heir apparent Julian Alaphilippe last year and the Frenchman is odds-on to double up after his fourth-place finish at Amstel Gold on Sunday confirmed his well-being.

The race invariably centres around the final climb of the Mur de Huy. At 1.3km long and with an average gradient of 9.6 per cent, the finale on the Mur is the battleground for what is perhaps the slowest bunch sprint of the entire season.

Valverde was the master of timing his attack on the final ascent of the Mur, which has decided every edition since 2003, but last year showed that Alaphilippe probably has his measure now.

The French ace is undoubtedly the likeliest winner but in-form Britain Adam Yates has the talent to push him close.

Yates, twin brother of 2018 Vuelta a Espana winner Simon, has had a productive start to his season with four stage wins and second-place overall finishes at Tirreno-Adriatico and the Volta Cataluyna.

The punishing finishing will be no problem for the Brit, who possess a deadly kick when the road rises.

Recommendation
A Yates
2pts each-way 12-1 Hills

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