This Wednesday, July 30, was the last stage of theEthias-Tour de Wallonie. After the victory of the Czech Republic champion, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), during the previous stage, and an extremely tight general classification, the first ten standing in just 24 seconds, this final stage promised to be decisive for the final victory of this 46th edition. Who was going to succeed Matteo Trentin? Despite the hopes, it was the breakaway that was played by winning, and it is Left clément (Cofidis), survivor of the morning breakaway, won ahead Corbin Strong (Israel–Premier Tech) et Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team). Second in the stage this Wednesday, the New Zealander wins the general classification and succeeds Matteo Trentinwinner in 2024.
Video – Mathias Vacek, winner the day before
The summary
Unlike the day before, The runners benefited from an ideal weather For this last stage of the Ethias-Tour de Wallonie. A breakaway quickly formed, made up in particular of Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Olivier Le Gac (Groupama‑FDJ), Left clément (COFIDIS) Filip Maciejuk (Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe), BAPTIST PEOPLE PROTECTS (Lotto Dstny Development Team), Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team), Renard (Wagner Bazin WB), Matevž Govekar (Team Bahrain Victorious), Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ), Girl Haverdings (Baloyian Glowi Lions), Aaron Dewirdt (Team Flanders-Baloise) et Gianni Marand (Tarteletto-Isorex), without forgetting the Belgian specialist in cyclo-cross, Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sazen-Cibel Clementines).
This breakaway quickly gets ahead, and the peloton cannot fill the gap. In the various climbs of the day, the favorites remain wait -and -see, which leaves real hope to the escapes for the stage victory. In the last coast of the day, Mathias Vacek try to accelerate, but without managing to dig any differences. The last kilometers are thrilling: the breakaway, reduced to five runners: Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Left clément (COFIDIS) Lorenzo Milesi (Movistar Team), Rémy Rochas (Groupama-FDJ) and the young Gianni Marand (Tarteletto-Isorex), as best they can with a peloton launched at full speed. The suspense is total. The arrival is played at the top of a small coast: the peloton melts on the escapes and catches them in the last 100 meters … But it is a survivor of the morning escape that lifts the arms! Left clément is rightly imposed, resisting the return of Corbin Strong et Lorenzo Milesi. In the general classification, the New Zealander Corbin Strong wins this 46th edition, ahead Mathias Vacek et Oliver Knight.
