Valverde wins Fleche Wallonne for record 4th time (The Associated Press)
Alejandro Valverde of Spain became the first rider to win the Fleche Wallonne four times after racing to a third straight title Wednesday. Spanish rider Joaquin Rodriguez was the first to attack during the brutal Mur de Huy climb, but Valverde countered the move and won the sprint ahead of Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe – who finished runner-up for a second consecutive year. The Mur de Huy is one of cycling’s most difficult climbs, with a 26 percent gradient at its steepest, and Valverde knows it perfectly.