Today, the first of two Belgian Ardennes classics starts in Charleroi and heads east to Huy, where the riders do three laps of a tough circuit including the steep Mur de Huy (The wall of Huy) climb, with several sections steeper than 15%. The finish is at the top of the Mur after the third ascent. The Flèche Wallonne consistently comes to a close with a brutal and spectacular clash where the best punchers in the peloton will have to go down to their last ounce of energy. Defying gravity on the slopes of the Mur de Huy, each of them will have to keep an eye on rivals vying for the same goal. It is a conundrum in the sense that they will have to give it their all while at the same time carefully measuring their efforts. In 2010, it was Philippe Gilbert who found the best balance between too much and too little.

