HUY, Belgium, April 21, 2010 – - Australia’s world champion Cadel Evans won the Fleche Wallonne one-day classic here on Wednesday ahead of Spanish duo Joaquin Rodriguez and Alberto Contador.

Evans, second here in 2008 and fifth last year, powered up the grueling final ‘Mur de Huy’ climb to snatch victory and set down a marker for the upcoming Tour of Italy and Tour de France.

The head of the American BMC team, runner-up in the Tour de France to Contador in 2007 and 2008, surged past his Tour de France nemesis in the final 100 meters for his first Fleche-Wallonne success.

Spaniard Igor Anton filled fourth at the end of the 198 kilometer circuit in front of Italy’s Damiano Cunego and Belgium rider Philippe Gilbert.

Russia’s Alexandre Kolobnev had made a late burst for victory only to be pegged back on the final climb.

This was Evans’ first win since taking possession of the world champion’s rainbow jersey which he won in Mendrisio, Switzertland, last year and the first time the Fleche Wallonne was marked down for export to Australia in its 74-year history.

Evans put his dynamic performance down to a change in his training programme.

“As I’m riding in the Giro (Tour of Italy) I’ve had a different approach. I’m happy with my progress, but I can still improve further.”

In contrast to 2008 when he went for broke too early on the final exhausting climb Evans on this occasion timed his attack to perfection.

This win has catapulted Evans into the position of favourite for Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

“That’s that negative side to my victory – now everybody’s going to be watching out for me!”

Contador was satisfied with his showing in the Belgium classic.

“I’m happy enough even if I’d preferred to have won the race. I’m in good shape ahead of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege (on Sunday) but to win there you really need to know the circuit.

“It would be fantastic to win it, for me it would be like winning a big tour event because I’m not a classic specialist.”

In the women’s race there was a 1-2 for Great Britain with Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke finishing ahead of third-placed Emma Johansson of Sweden.

Holland’s Marianne Vos, winner of the last three editions, came in sixth.

Fleche Wallonne 2010 Winners

Crash

Kroon Gets The Worst Of The Crash

- Results of the 2010 Fleche Wallonne:
1. Cadel Evans (AUS/BMC), les 198 km en 4 h 39:24.
(moyenne: 42,520 km/h)
2. Joaquin Rodriguez (ESP/KAT) m.t.
3. Alberto Contador (ESP/AST) m.t.
4. Igor Anton (ESP/EUS) à 06.
5. Damiano Cunego (ITA/LAM) 09.
6. Philippe Gilbert (BEL/OLO) 11.
7. Chris Horner (USA/RSH) 11.
8. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/GCE) 11.
9. Andy Schleck (LUX/SAX) 11.
10. Ryder Hesjedal (CAN/GRM) 11.
11. Michael Albasini (SUI/THR) 11.
12. Bert De Waele (BEL/LAN) 11.
13. Vincenzo Nibali (ITA/LIQ) 11.
14. Christophe Le Mével (FRA/FDJ) 11.
15. Robert Gesink (NED/RAB) 19.
16. Francesco Gavazzi (ITA/LAM) 19.
17. Xavier Florencio (ESP/CTT) 19.
18. Daniel Martin (IRL/GRM) 19.
19. Sébastien Minard (FRA/COF) 24.
20. Jurgen Van den Broeck (BEL/OLO) 24.
21. Jérémy Roy (FRA/FDJ) 24.
22. Leonardo Duque (COL/COF) 24.
23. Thomas Lövkvist (SWE/SKY) 27.
24. Andreas Klöden (GER/RSH) 27.
…
27. Thomas Voeckler (FRA/BTL) 32.
30. Nicolas Roche (IRL/ALM) 32.
32. Peter Velits (SVK/THR) 36.
35. Cyril Gautier (FRA/BTL) 41.
39. Rémy Cusin (FRA/COF) 45.
42. Frank Schleck (LUX/SAX) 47.
45. John Gadret (FRA/ALM) 47.
52. Tony Martin (GER/THR) 56.
53. Serguei Ivanov (RUS/KAT) 56.
55. Christophe Moreau (FRA/GCE) 56.
56. Simon Gerrans (AUS/SKY) 56.
57. Xavier Tondo (ESP/CTT) 56.
61. Sandy Casar (FRA/FDJ) 1:03.
62. Pierre Rolland (FRA/BTL) 1:06.
67. Bradley Wiggins (GBR/SKY) 1:07.
68. Maxim Iglinskiy (KAZ/AST) 1:07.
73. Francis Mourey (FRA/FDJ) 1:24.
76. Alexandre Kolobnev (RUS/SAX) 1:29.
78. Christophe Riblon (FRA/ALM) 1:29.
81. Maxime Bouet (FRA/ALM) 1:36.
85. Michel Kreder (NED/GRM) 1:36.
87. Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP/GCE) 1:36.
89. Oscar Freire (ESP/RAB) 1:36.
93. Benoît Vaugrenard (FRA/FDJ) 2:30.
94. Roman Kreuziger (CZE/LIQ) 2:39.
96. Jean-Christophe Péraud (FRA/OLO) 4:23.
104. Dimitri Champion (FRA/ALM) 5:23.
107. Stéphane Augé (FRA/COF) 5:28.
110. Sylvain Calzati (FRA/SKY) 7:51.
112. Mickaël Buffaz (FRA/COF) 8:10.
113. Jérôme Pineau (FRA/QST) 8:10.
114. Anthony Roux (FRA/FDJ) 8:15.
116. Blel Kadri (FRA/ALM) 10:55.
125. Laurent Lefèvre (FRA/BTL) 11:42.
128. Hubert Dupont (FRA/ALM) 11:42.
139. Matthieu Sprick (FRA/BTL) 11:56.
142 coureurs classés.
Abandoned: Pierrick Fédrigo (FRA/BTL), Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/SAX), Karsten Kroon (DEN/BMC), Kim Kirchen (LUX/KAT)

Story by: AFP
Photos by: Corvos Pro