La Flèche Wallonne 2013, 17 April **warning, contains unmasked spoilers**

The 77th La Flèche Wallonne, Wednesday 17th April, Binche - Huy (205 km)

It's time for the second of the Ardennes Classics! Official website here. This race revolves around the vicious Mur de Huy climb, which is 1.3km long, with an average gradient of 9.3%, and has a maximum gradient of 26% :eek: The race reaches Huy after 107km, after which the riders will have to tackle the Mur three times in between some other climbs. The last breakaway winner of this race was a decade ago, so it's safe enough to say that this race will come down to the final ascent of the Mur. It'll be a crazy bunch sprint

Full start list here. This is the type of finish that Joaquim Rodriguez gets out of bed in the morning for. He's the best in the world at super steep, short climbs. The 2012 Flèche winner crashed out of the Amstel race last Sunday, leaving him with a leg muscle injury. Will this be enough to stop him competing for the win today? I don't think so.
Philippe Gilbert is really starting to come into form, as shown by his very strong attack on the Cauberg in the Amstel. Although he was caught on the flat after the summit, nobody could stay on his wheel during the climb. He won FW in 2011 and was 3rd last year. If he is at the front in the last few hundred metres, it's hard to see anyone overtaking him.
Alejandro Valverde was the rider who managed to catch Gilbert in the Amstel, and ended up finishing 2nd. He's a strong climber and like Gilbert, he's a good sprinter, so I wouldn't be surprised if he finished on the podium today, but I don't think he'll win.
Look out for the pure climbers like Sergio Henao, Nairo Quintana, and Igor Anton to attack on the steepest sections of the Mur, hoping that Gilbert and Valvderde will be too far back to compete in the final 100 metres, which are 'flat-ish' at 6% gradient Henao had a fantastic win on a stage in the Tour of the Basque Country which featured a similar short, steep finish. He could be a real contender.
Peter Sagan is competing in his first Flèche today. Since he has never experienced the Mur de Huy before, and along with suffering from cramps in the final stages of the Amstel Gold Race, I can see him struggling to finish in the top 20. It's his last Spring classic this season though, so expect him to empty the tank today.
Dan Martin has a very realistic chance of competing for the win today. He finished 6th in this race last year, and won Volta Catalunya last month. He crashed in the Amstel, but no serious injuries were reported. He does have the ability to beat Purito, Gilbert etc. Nico Roche is on domestique duties today for Contador and Kreuziger (I don't think Contador will feature on the podium today, L-B-L will favour him more).




Outright betting: P Gilbert 11/4; J Rodriguez 4/1; S Henao 6/1; A Valverde 6/1; P Sagan 17/2, N Quintana 9/1; A Contador 14/1.

D Martin 33/1.

Live TV coverage on Eurosport1 from 2pm. Highlights later today on Eurosport1 at 6.15pm and 11.45pm, and on Eurosport2 at 9.30pm.