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The 22-year-old Bernese once again demonstrates his excellent form and celebrates the biggest victory of his career.
Just 3 days after winning bronze in the World Championship road race, Marc Hirschi once again demonstrated his strong form. The 22-year-old Bernese from the Sunweb team triumphs in the Ardennes classic Flèche Wallonne and celebrates the biggest victory of his career.
After 202 km from Herve to Huy, Hirschi won the mountain sprint ahead of Frenchman Benoît Cosnefroy and Canadian Michael Woods. The 22-year-old from German team Sunweb had the best stages on the 1.3km long, 9.3 percent steep Mur de Huy final ascent and gave Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar a chance. The Slovenian finished the race in ninth position.
“It was perfect for us and my team did a very good job,” Hirschi said in the subsequent interview with the winners. I was already at the fence, but I waited for the right moment. I didn’t make any mistakes today and had strong legs at the end. “
First Swiss victory in 68 years
Hirschi is only the second Swiss after Ferdy Kübler to win the Flèche Wallone. Kübler triumphed twice in this historic race in 1951 and 1952.
For the Ittiger it is another great success of the last weeks. In the Tour de France he won the 12th solo stage in Sarran. Last Sunday he also won the bronze medal at the World Road Championships in Imola.
Alaphilippe canceled on short notice
Newly crowned world champion Julian Alaphilippe, who won the previous two editions of the “Walloon Arrow”, canceled short-term on Monday. Instead, the Frenchman wants to focus on Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday. The winning record Alejandro Valverde also decided not to start.