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67th Flèche Wallonne - 1.HC
Belgium, April 23, 2003
Main Page Results Live report World Cup Standings
Basquing in the sun: Astarloa and Osa take honours in Huy
By Jeff Jones in Huy
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Basque riders Igor Astarloa (Saeco) and Aitor Osa (iBanesto.com) have claimed the top two placings in the 67th edition of La Flèche Wallonne, marking the first time that a rider from Spain has won this Belgian classic. After climbing the Mur de Huy side by side, Igor Astarloa was a level above Osa over the final 200 metres, producing an acceleration that his breakaway companion couldn't match to cross the line in triumph.
"I always knew I was a rider for the big classics: now, finally, I've showed it," said Astarloa post-race. "I'd already shown some of what I could do last year, second in San Sebastian and in Hamburg, and then fourth place in the overall World Cup. This year it's continued to go well, in Sunday in Amstel I could have obtained more than 10th place, but was betrayed by cramps."
Astarloa credited his team, especially Alexandre Shefer, who led the next group home in third place. "We are really a fine group, and we feel united and extraordinarily motivated. Also this time we made the race, Shefer was splendid."
He also wasn't too afraid of Aitor Osa, despite the fact that the climbed the most part of the Mur de Huy side by side. When Astarloa went, Osa could do nothing but watch. "I know Osa well, in Spain we live 20 kilometres from each other. I knew he was a capable climber, but I felt so good."
As can often happen in this race, the victory was fought out by a different crew to the riders who were prominent in the Amstel Gold Race and the other World Cups. A breakaway of 15 riders escaped after the first ascent of the Mur de Huy (km 65) and was never caught, despite the peloton keeping the gap to what seemed like a manageable level.
How it unfolded
The riders in the 67th Flèche Wallonne left Charleroi's football stadium at 11:00am in bright sunshine and windless conditions. Their first destination was Huy, where they would tackle the infamous Mur de Huy after 65 kilometres, meeting it again at 102 km and again at the finish. A number of other climbs featured in the parcours, although none as steep as the Mur, which averages 15% in its final 900 metres.
The peloton remained bunched together in the early part of the race, reaching the first ascent of Mur complete. First over the top was Landbouwkrediet's Marc Streel, followed by Sebastian Mattozza, and there were no serious breaks in the bunch at the top. However on the descent, a group of 15 riders escaped, and this eventually proved to be the winning break.
Saeco was represented by Astarloa and Shefer, Telekom by Julich and Hiekmann, and there were also Oscar Mason and Eddy Mazzoleni (Caldirola-Sidermec), Udo Bölts (Gerolsteiner), Unai Etxebarria (Euskaltel), Marc Lotz (Rabobank), Cristian Moreno (Alessio), Angel Castresana (ONCE), Dmitri Fofonov (Cofidis), Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole), Aitor Osa (iBanesto), Alexandre Kolobnev (Domina Vacanze). The group gained a maximum lead of 3 minutes by the côte de France (km 115), and with 85 kilometres still to race, it was thought that the peloton would eventually reel them in.
It was not the case, despite work being done by Fassa Bortolo and CSC in particular, with Telekom also lending a hand, perhaps not being confident in its two riders in the break. The peloton closed to within 1'12 at the top of the côte de Bohissau with 30 km to go, but the final killer blow did not come. Instead, it was up to the strong riders who were left in the break to make the race, and they did so.
On the penultimate climb of the côte de Ahin with 11 km to go, Astarloa accelerated away from his companions, splitting the break to pieces. Only Aitor Osa could close the gap, and the pair crossed the summit with a good lead over Shefer, Mason and Mazzoleni. They cooperated well and increased their advantage to 35 seconds with 5 km to go, ready for the final ascent of the Mur de Huy.
Whether it was by agreement or otherwise, the pair of Basque riders climbed the Mur side by side, with Osa giving it everything to stay with Astarloa, who looked the more comfortable. Osa managed to stay with Astarloa on the steepest part with 400m to go, but when Astarloa sprinted at 200m out, Osa could not go any faster. Astarloa crossed the line, taking his biggest career win, and will now look to Liège-Bastogne-Liège where Saeco also has Di Luca and Celestino as its big guns for La Doyenne.
Photography
Images by Franck Fife/AFP
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) rides at the front of the peloton.
- Cristophe Moreau (Crédit Agricole) was one of 15 riders in the early break that was never caught.
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) stays out of trouble at the head of the peloton in the closing moments of Flèche Wallonne.
- A worm's eye view of the action at the 67th Flèche Wallonne.
- The peloton en masse through the streets of Huy.
- Spectators gathered around the steepest parts of the Mur de Huy to watch the action unfold.
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco, L) and compatriot Aitor Osa (Banesto, R) battle mano-a-mano on the final ascension of the Mur de Huy.
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco) launches his winning attack on the Mur de Huy with 200m to go.
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco) crosses the line, taking his biggest career win to date, and will now look to Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com
- A new start for La Fleche Wallonne outside Charleroi's soccer stadium
- Saeco's Igor Astarloa at the start in Charleroi
- Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) ready to go
- Defending champion Mario Aerts (Telekom) wonders what's in store
- USPS director Johan Bruyneel takes a message
- The Rabobank team car stocked with provisions
- Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) signs an autograph for a fan
- The Euskaltel boys mean business today
- Alexandre Vinokourov (Telekom) - what can he do today?
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) looking happy to be here
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) gives a pre-race interview
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) looked fit and ready to go
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) signs one of many autographs
- Jan Ullrich (Coast) zips up the jersey
- The legs of Der Kaiser at the start
- Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto-Domo) relaxed at the start
- Tyler Hamilton talks to Jim Ochowicz at the start
- Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) at the start
- Frank Vandenbroucke (Quick.Step-Davitamon) after signing on in Charleroi
- Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) at the start in Charleroi
- Oscar Freire (Rabobank) at the start
- Jose Vicente Garcia Acosta (iBanesto) with the Euskaltel boys
- Miguel Martinez (Phonak) explains the secret to his success to an interested party
Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti
- Aitor Osa (iBanesto.com) and Igor Astarloa (Saeco) race up the Mur.
- Igor Astarloa of Saeco kisses the 67th Flèche Wallonne trophy.
- Igor Astarloa of Saeco crosses the finish line ahead of his breakaway partner, Aitor Osa.
- Igor Astarloa of Saeco is handed his trophy by Bernard Hinault, winner of this race in 1979 and 1983.
- Igor practises his victory wave from the podium.
- The 2003 Flèche Wallonne podium (l-r) Aitor Osa, Igor Astarloa and Alexandre Shefer
- Jan Ullrich (Team Coast) looked quite comfortable today, and finished with the bunch.
- Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) and Cyclingnews diarist Danilo diLuca (Saeco) keep an eye on things in the bunch.
- Michele Bartoli (Fassa Bortolo) didn't try any winning moves today.
- Aitor Osa (iBanesto.com) and Igor Astarloa (Saeco) climb the Mur side by side.
Images by Jeff Tse/www.jefftse.com/cycling
- Michael Boogerd rode strongly at the front after a strong performance at Amstel Gold on Sunday.
- The peloton winds around one of the hairpins of the Mur de Huy.
- The rejuvenated Jan Ullrich smiles at the start of the Flèche Wallonne.
- Jan Ullrich ready for the start of Fleche Wallonne after his win in the Rund um Köln on Monday.
- Jose Luis Rubiera (US Postal-Berry Floor) shows the face of a man who's done a hard days work.
- Before the race, Jose Luis Rubiera looked pretty relaxed.
- A Lotto-Domo rider drifts back towards the team cars on the Mur de Huy.
- Max Sciandri of Lampre is flanked by Max Van Heeswijk of US Postal-Berry Floor on the climb of the Mur de Huy
- Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole) before the start of the 67th Flèche Wallonne.
- Moreau's Look KG 486 gleams in the Belgian sunshine.
- Flèche Wallonne women's race winner, two in a row for Nicole Cooke (Ausra Gruodis - Safi).
- Tyler Hamilton (Team CSC) looking cool as a cat at the start.
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco) kissing his prize.
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco) wins the 67th Flèche Wallonne.
Images by Elmar Krings
- Igor Astarloa (Saeco) and Aitor Osa (ibanesto) fight their way up the Mur de Huy
- Igor Astarloa glances back at his breakaway companion.
- Aitor Osa sees victory slipping away from him.
- Eventual third place getter Alexandre Schefer leading up the hill.
- Credit Agricole's Christophe Moreau pushes up the hill.
- Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and Danilo DiLuca (Saeco) fight their way to the finish.
- Iban Mayo (Euskaltel - Euskadi) leads a group up the hill.
- A group containing Frank Vandenbroucke make their way up the Mur de Huy.
- Jan Ullrich (Telekom) comes in with the bunch.
- A closer shot of Jan Ullrich on the hill.
- Udo Bölts (Gerolsteiner) comes in.
- Rolf Aldag (Telekom) has a drink post-race.
- Mario Aerts (Telekom) gets interviewed on the bike.
Results
1 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Team Saeco 4.39.17 (42.86 km/h) 2 Aitor Osa Eizaguirre (Spa) iBanesto.com 0.16 3 Aleksandr Shefer (Kaz) Team Saeco 0.56 4 Unai Etxebarria Arana (Ven) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.00 5 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Domina Vacanze-Elitron 1.06 6 Oscar Mason (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 1.08 7 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Alessio 1.13 8 Angel Castresana Del Val (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 1.15 9 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Crédit Agricole 1.19 10 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 11 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Team Saeco 1.34 12 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 1.36 13 Oscar Pereiro Sio (Spa) Phonak Hearing Systems 1.42 14 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC 1.44 15 Javier Pascual Rodriguez (Spa) iBanesto.com 16 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 1.45 17 Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 18 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) Quick.Step-Davitamon 19 Dave Bruylandts (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf 20 Andrea Noe (Ita) Alessio 1.47 21 Gianni Faresin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 1.49 22 Massimo Giunti (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron 23 Nicki Sorensen (Den) Team CSC 1.51 24 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon 25 Didier Rous (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 1.56 26 Beat Zberg (Swi) Rabobank 27 Angel Vicioso Arcos (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 28 Walter Beneteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 1.59 29 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Saeco 30 David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.01 31 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Coast 32 David Canada Garcia (Spa) Quick.Step-Davitamon 33 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 34 Kurt Van De Wouwer (Bel) Quick.Step-Davitamon 35 Francisco José Lara Ruiz (Spa) Team Coast 2.04 36 Dmitri Fofonov (Kaz) Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 2.07 37 Steve Zampieri (Swi) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 2.08 38 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.10 39 Axel Merckx (Bel) Lotto-Domo 2.12 40 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 41 Peter Farazijn (Bel) Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 42 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Alessio 43 Marc Lotz (Ned) Rabobank 2.16 44 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 45 Raimondas Rumsas (Ltu) Lampre 46 Marcos A. Serrano Rodriguez (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 2.18 47 Christian Vandevelde (USA) US Postal presented by Berry F 48 Ivan Basso (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 49 Evgeni Petrov (Rus) iBanesto.com 2.24 50 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Alessio 2.25 51 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank 2.29 52 Udo Bölts (Ger) Gerolsteiner 2.33 53 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf 2.38 54 Gian Paolo Cheula (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 2.41 55 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 56 Fabio Sacchi (Ita) Team Saeco 2.50 57 Jose Azevedo (Por) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 58 Inigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 59 Isidro Nozal Vega (Spa) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 2.54 60 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Fassa Bortolo 3.01 61 Andrea Tonti (Ita) Team Saeco 3.02 62 Bobby Julich (USA) Team Telekom 63 David Etxebarria Alkorta (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 3.05 64 Torsten Hiekmann (Ger) Team Telekom 3.15 65 Michele Scarponi (Ita) Domina Vacanze-Elitron 3.22 66 Matthias Kessler (Ger) Team Telekom 67 Domenico Passuello (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 11.17 68 Cédric Fragniere (Swi) Crédit Agricole 69 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 70 Manuel Beltran Martinez (Spa) Team Coast 71 Johan Coenen (Bel) Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf 72 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Lotto-Domo 73 Andrea Peron (Ita) Team CSC 74 Fabrice Gougot (Fra) Phonak Hearing Systems 75 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank 76 Mario Aerts (Bel) Team Telekom 77 Serge Baguet (Bel) Lotto-Domo 78 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Lampre 79 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 80 Jose Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) US Postal presented by Berr 81 Steve De Wolf (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 82 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro) Alessio 83 Nico Sijmens (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 84 Wim Van Huffel (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 85 Sergiy Adyeyev (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 11.22 86 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre 87 Denis Lunghi (Ita) Alessio 11.25 88 Franck Bouyer (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 89 Ellis Rastelli (Ita) Gerolsteiner 90 Paolo Bossoni (Ita) Caldirola-Sidermec-Saunier Duval 91 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago 92 Steven Kleynen (Bel) Vlaanderen-T Interim 93 Jörg Jaksche (Ger) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 94 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Telekom 95 Rolf Aldag (Ger) Team Telekom 96 Thorsten Rund (Ger) Team Coast 97 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère 98 Mikel Artetxe Gezuraga (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 99 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre 11.36 100 Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Team Telekom 101 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) O.N.C.E.-Eroski 11.39 102 Luca Paolini (Ita) Quick.Step-Davitamon 103 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop 104 Christopher Jenner (NZl) Crédit Agricole 11.45
