CHARLEROI, Belgium, April 19, 2011 – Three-time Tour de France
champion Alberto Contador and fellow Spaniard Joaquin Rodriguez are among a
clutch of riders who have their hearts set on glory in Wednesday’s Fleche
Wallonne.

The Fleche Wallonne, the second of the three Ardennes Classics, is a
grueling 201km affair and the riders must finish up the challenge by
negotiating a 9.3km average gradient 1.3km climb at the Muur de Huy.

Last year, Cadel Evans of Australia won the 75th edition after a well-timed
final burst on the Muur.

But this time out Evans, who beat Rodriguez and Contador to the line 12
months ago, will have to sit it out owing to a painful knee after a heavy
crash in training, shortening the odds on a Spanish success.

The Spanish contingent also features Igor Anton, a Basque who placed fourth
last time out, and Samuel Sanchez – second in 2006.

Contador is still awaiting a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) judgment
after an appeal by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the World
Anti-Doping Agency over a Spanish cycling federation (RFEC) decision to
rescind an initial one-year competition ban for doping at the Tour de France.

He tested positive for a tiny amount of the banned muscle-building
substance clenbuterol during last July’s Tour de France, which he went on to
win.

But the RFEC ultimately accepted the rider’s claim that he had unknowingly
consumed drug-contaminated meat and was therefore not negligent.

In the meantime, Contador is free to continue racing until and unless the
CAS rules against him and will be racing in Belgium for what he says will be
his final race ahead of the Giro, which starts on May 7, his main goal for
this stage of the season.

Contador has been struggling with the onset of a cold as well as mechanical
difficulties with his bike in recent days and could only manage 24th place in
the Tour of Castilla y Leon on home soil won by compatriot Xavier Tondo.

Contador has won the Tour of Murcia and the Tour of Catalonia and will be
out to score what would be a big morale boost on Wednesday – but he admits
that “the Fleche Wallonne may come a bit too early” for him to show his best
form.

Being a climber, Rodriguez also will expect to make his mark.

Spain does not have the greatest of records at the event, with Igor
Astarloa (2003) and Alejandro Valverde (2006) their only champions. Both men
found themselves – albeit some time after their wins – implicated in doping
allegations.

Another contender is Belgian Philippe Gilbert, who put in a good aggressive
ride in Flanders before coming through to win last Sunday’s Amstel Gold for
the second straight year at the expense of Rodriguez.

Two-time Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, second here
in 2009, Ivan Basso and Samuel Sanchez, Joaquin Rodriguez, runner-up last
year, and Damiano Cunego, twice a podium finisher, will be among the riders
looking to succeed Evans.

With ten climbs in total to negotiate, three of them on the Huy, the race
is a tough hors d’oeuvre before the riders sink their teeth into the even more
challenging Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the doyen of classic races, next weekend.

Some, Gilbert included, may feel a desire to keep their powder dry for the
latter date.

But the Belgian, 6th last year, will be in front of a home crowd who want
to see a 38th home success to extend their dominance over the Italians,
lagging behind on 18 with eight for France.

Article: AFP
File Photo: Corvos