72nd La Flèche Wallonne - 1.HC

Belgium, April 23, 2008

Photography

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Images by AFP Photo

• Kim Kirchen (Team High Road) takes the soggy win ahead of Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto)
• Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) powers up the Mur de Huy.
• Kim Kirchen (Team High Road) takes his first Classic.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Kim Kirchen (High Road) and Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) make up the 72nd Fleche Wallonne podium.
• Kirchen was just a tiny bit happy with his big win on the Mur.
• The peloton climbs the Mur de Huy early in the race - before the rain, and before the pain.

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

• Frank Schleck (Team CSC) during the early stages.
• Andrea Moletta (Gerolsteiner) on the first ascent of the Mur de Huy.
• Alexander Gottfried (Tinkoff Credit Systems) tackles the Mur.
• Daniele Righi (Lampre) was at the service of Damiano Cunego today.
• Cadel Evans (Silence Lotto) hit out first and had Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) on his wheel.
• Evans put in a strong effort but might have gone a tad too soon...
• Kirchen made a late surge as the steepness began to slack off.
• Kirchen put in a massive effort to pass Evans.
• Evans tried to come back to Kirchen.
• But Kirchen dug deep and held them all off.
• Kirchen feels the burn of the 18% average grade.
• Kim Kirchen hits the line and knows the pain has paid off.
• Kirchen takes his first Classic after coming second in 2005.
• Water pours off Kirchen who doesn't seem to mind - he requested a rainy finish!
• It finally dawns on him... this is what he'd dreamed about!
• Kirchen was a bit in shock after taking the win in atop the Mur de Huy.
• As reality sank in, Kirchen began to celebrate
• ... and finally saluted the crowd with kisses.
• The pain is all too much for Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner).
• Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) never had the legs on the Mur, eventually finishing 19th.
• The Schleck brothers, Andy and Frank, cruise into the finish after a soggy day of racing.
• The top three on the podium waiting for the ceremony.
• Cunego, Kirchen and Evans on the 72nd Fleche Wallonne podium.
• Cunego was shivering while waiting for the podium ceremony, after being soaked through to the skin.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) early in the race before the rain fell.

Images by Erik Van Breugel/www.cyclingmoments.com

• The peloton climbs the Mur de Huy in the early part of the race.
• Yaroslav Popovych (Silence-Lotto) leads Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto).
• Marco Pinotti (High Road) leads the escape group.
• Damiano Cunego (Lampre) concentrated.
• Kim Kirchen (High Road) at 150 metres from the line. Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) (r) finished second.
• Bert De Waele (Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner) with Luca Mazzanti (Tinkoff Credit Systems) for company
• Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner) struggling after being caught.
• Sven Renders (Topsport Vlaanderen)
• Andy Schleck (Team CSC) rides in after taking part in the early escape.
• Gustav Erik Larsson (Team CSC) after his crash in the finale.
• Kim Kirchen (High Road) tops the podium with Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) (r) and with Damiano Cunego (Lampre) (l).