7th Flèche Wallonne - CDM/68th Flèche Wallonne - 1.HC - CDM

Belgium, April 21, 2004

Images by Mitchell Clinton/Cyclingnews/www.clintonphoto.com

Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) salutes from the stage
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) looking less relaxed than he did last year
The start in Charleroi
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Davitamon) pulled out early
Frank Vandenbroucke (Fassa Bortolo) had a good ride to finish 7th
Marco Pinotti (Lampre) on the attack
Fassa Bortolo working for VDB
The damage is being done on the Mur de Huy
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) looked comfortable on the second lap up the Mur
Michele Bartoli (CSC) in a meeeeaaan mood
Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) fine tunes his form for Liege
The peloton was strung out for much of the day
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC) assumes the position on the descent
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (USPS) leads Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio) and Jerome Pineau (Brioches) during their escape
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) gives it gas near the end
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) just about to be caught
Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) doing the job for his teammates
Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) was always at the front
Kirchen and Sanchez lead Vinokourov and Celestino in their late race move
Vinokourov and Celestino drove the final break, which was caught just before Huy
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) was very happy with his win
Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) had to be content with second
Mattias Kessler (T-Mobile) didn't quite have enough to stay with Di Luca and Rebellin
Michele Scarponi (Domina) crosses for fourth
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) on the podium

Images by AFP Photo

Rebellin pulls away from Di Luca in the final 100m to take the win
The peloton tackles the steepest part of the Mur
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is very happy with his second big win in four days
The peloton ascending the dreaded Mur de Huy
The podium (L to R): Danilo Di Luca (2nd), David Rebellin (1st) and Matthias Kessler (3rd)
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) and Alexandre Vinokourov chat at the start
Tyler Hamilton (Phonak) looking good
Kessler leads Di Luca and Rebellin on the final ascent of the Mur
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) only just survived the first time up the Mur de Huy
Der Jan wheels his machine up
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) showed good form to finish 5th
Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio) working hard in a break

Images by Elmar Krings

Oscar Camenzind and Martin Elmiger were a long way back, and had to fight their way through the crowds on the Mur de Huy
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (USPS, R) together with Jurgen Van De Walles (Jacques, L) and Christian Werner (T-Mobile, C)
Vai Danilo! Di Luca had to settle for second
Rik Verbrugghe (Lotto-Domo) finished a solid 18th today
Alessandro Bertolini (Alessio) won the mountains prize
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) descends from the podium
Pain and suffering on the face of Georg Totschnig (Gerolsteiner).
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) having another good ride
The Mur de Huy actually looks steeper than this

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Need a spare bike? This one has toeclips
Michele Bartoli's new Cervelo
So what's with the red grease? Rabobank wouldn't say...
The Pinarellos of Fassa Bortolo
Christophe Moreau (CA) looking happy
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) rolls up to the start
Lotto-Domo on stage
Gorazd Stangelj (Saeco)
Bart Voskamp (Jacques)
Danilo Di Luca (Saeco) talks to RAI journalist Alessandra Di Stefano
Phillippe Gilbert (FDJeux.com) has some pressure on his shoulders today
US Postal presented by Daniel Mangeas
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) looks serious
Yaroslav Popovych (Landbouwkrediet)
Euskaltel-Euskadi - the orange people
Frank. There is only one VDB
Bartoli on his Cervelo
2002 winner Mario Aerts (T-Mobile)
Just how motivated is Alexandre Vinokourov?
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) rides to the start
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) is still nowhere near top condition
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) is definitely one to watch
Der Jan looked imposing on stage next to Matthias Kessler
Matthias Kessler (T-Mobile) watched by Brad McGee
The start was under grey skies, but there wasn't too much rain
Michele Bartoli (CSC) leads Di Luca on lap 1
Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) was suffering right on the tail of the peloton the first time up the Mur.
Brioches and Domina riders out the back on lap 1
Baranowski and Van Goolen in front on lap 2
Axel Merckx (Lotto-Domo) stays focused
Lots more suffering on the second lap up the Mur de Huy
Michael Rogers (Quick.Step) didn't feel so good today

Images by Mitchell Clinton/Cyclingnews/www.clintonphoto.com

Sonia Huguet (French National Team) powers home for the win
Hanka Kupfernagel (Vlaanderen T Interim) suffers on the Mur de Huy
Susan Palmer-Komar (Canada) finished in 4th place, showing her consistency in this race
Genevieve Jeanson (RONA) on the Mur de Huy
Sara Carrigan (AIS) on the Mur de Huy

Images by AFP Photo

Sonia Huguet (French National Team) takes a huge win on top of the Mur de Huy
Sonia Huguet (French National Team) can't believe she made it
The podium (L to R) Hanka Kupfernagel (2nd), Sonia Huguet (1st) and Edita Pucinskaite (3rd)

Images by Elmar Krings

Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com

Hanka Kupfernagel (Vlaanderen T Interim) survived to finish second
Judith Arndt (Nurnberger) crosses for fifth place
Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) was, as she put it, 'blowing chunks' at this stage
Zoulfia Zabirova (Let's Go Finland) finished 17th, well out of contention
World Champ Susanne Ljungskog (SATS) was well off her best today
Margaret Hemsley (Nurnberger) did a lot of work to try and bring Kupfernagel and Huguet back before the Mur
Edita Pucinskaite (Michela Fanini) with a big bunch of flowers for coming third
Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) waves her World Cup leader's bouquet
Oenone Wood (Australian National Team) on the podium in the World Cup jersey