Flèche Wallonne results: Pain & Rain

Race report from DS Matt White

Well you win some and you loose some! And today wasn’t our day! Great weather turned like our luck bad. Huub (left) had made the early break, Dan’s early crash seemed harmless, and things were looking good. With the rain came a spat of crashes and we had three more of our guys go down during the day.

After Huub’s break was caught, the bunch gradually thinned out. Only a select group of 50 were left to fight out the final ascent of the Mur de Huy, including our own David Millar and Ryder Hesjedal. David had Ryder in perfect position. Then at 1 km to go, Ryder flatted, just where the climb kicks up. So David gave his wheel to Ryder and that was that! On the positive side, the form is there for us to try something this weekend with our two elder statesmen.

Hats off to Huub and fingers crossed that all the boys bounce back quick after their crashes. And we have a bit better luck for Sunday’s race!

Slipstream Results
1. Kim Kirchen 4:35′29″

39. Ryder Hesjedal +1′34″
50. David Millar +2′49
109. Dan Martin +9′40″
Jason Donald - who finish but was not timed for some unknown reason

DNF Pat McCarty
DNF Huub Duyn
DNF Killian Patour
DNF Christophe Laurent