69th Flèche Wallonne - PT

Belgium, April 20, 2005

Photography

Pre-race

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Images by Hedwig Kröner/Cyclingnews.com

Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) is ready for action
Di Luca's Bianchi needs some wheels
Di Luca and Cunego at the start
Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick.Step) smiles at the start
David Moncoutie (Cofidis) is one of the favourites for today
Gerolsteiner DS Christian Henn talks to Jorg Jaksche
Erik Dekker (Rabobank) nearly runs over your photographer
Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) with the race face on
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) jokes with former teammate Alessandro Spezialetti (Lampre)
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) ready to roll in Charleroi
Cadel Evans (Lotto) looks happy to be here

Race Day

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Images by Fotoreporter Sirotti

Damiano Cunego (Lampre) gets ready
Di Luca and Cunego at the start
The peloton on lap 1
Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) riding up the Mur
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) climbs the Mur
Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) kept quiet in the bunch
Voigt and Peeters away by themselves
Di Luca and Bettini try to keep the mud out of their eyes
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) had enough time to ease up
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) raises his arms in triumph
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) was too good for Kirchen and Rebellin
Thank you! Di Luca blows a kiss as he wins
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) wins La Fleche Wallonne
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) after the finish
That was hard says Cunego
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) with the winner's trophy
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) with bouquet and trophy
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) kisses the winner's trophy
Rebellin and Di Luca on the podium
The men's podium (L to R): Davide Rebellin (3rd), Danilo Di Luca (1st) and Kim Kirchen (2nd)
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) is the new ProTour leader
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) hadn't previously heard the one about the horse that walks into a bar
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi) checks his saddle alignment
Francisco Mancebo (Illes Balears)
The break arrives at the foot of a climb
The peloton hits a climb - yes, it's steep.
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze) at the pe-race presentation
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) with Olympic gold helmet
Paolo Bettini grabs a pre-race drink
Oscar Freire and Erik Dekker (Rabobank) at the pre-race presentation
A very strung-out peloton
The peloton arrives at the outskirts of a village
All sorts of spectators lined the roads
No, the other left! The peloton divides round a roundabout
The peloton on a typical narrow, steep Ardennes climb.
Jens Voigt (CSC)
Christophe Moreau (Credit Agricole)
Mirko Celestino (Domina Vacanze)
Ivan Basso (CSC)
Jens Voigt (CSC) leads the break
The break had a lead of over two minutes, but it was not to be
Ivan Basso (CSC)
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step)
Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Caffita)
The peloton passes through lush green fields
The peloton rolls through the Ardenne countryside
T-Mobile - the pink posse
Alexandre Vinokourov (T-Mobile) is targetting the weekend's Liege-Bastone-Liege
Santiago Botero (Phonak) rides in the bunch
Jens Voigt (CSC) leads Jef Peeters (Chocolade Jacques)
Rik Verbrugghe (Quick.Step) attacks on the Côte de Bohissau with 32 km to go.
Rik Verbrugghe gaps the field but was eventually reeled in.

Images by Luc Claessen/www.actiefotos.be

Jens Voigt (CSC) in the lead group the first time up the Mur
Jens Voigt (CSC) climbs the Mur
Kloden, Sevilla, Wegmann and Bettini lead the bunch on the first lap up the Mur
Andreas Kloden (T-Mobile) on the first lap
Di Luca hits out with 150m to go to win La Fleche Wallonne
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) with an unassailable lead
Kim Kirchen (Fassa Bortolo) didn't have much left at the finish…
Cadel Evans (Lotto) in a lot of pain
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) with the winner's trophy, that could come in handy for the Mur
The men's podium (L to R): Davide Rebellin (3rd), Danilo Di Luca (1st) and Kim Kirchen (2nd)
New ProTour leader Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas-Bianchi)

Images by AFP Photo

Ivan Basso (CSC) at the start
Jens Voigt (CSC) leads the early break
Sevilla and Bettini lead the bunch up the Mur on lap 1
The peloton tackles the Mur de Huy
The notorious steep section of the Mur de Huy
Vinokourov looks at what lies ahead
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) next to Rik Verbrugghe (Quick.Step)
Kirchen (Right) climbs the Mur
Fred Bessy (Cofidis) feels the power of gravity
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) knows how to concentrate
Vinokourov and Chavanel close to each other
The peloton go up the Mur de Huy again
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) marked by CSC's Frank Schleck
Di Luca looking comfy on the Mur
Damiano Cunego (Lampre) in the rain
Jef Peeters (Jacques) and Jens Voigt (CSC) during their escape
Jens Voigt (CSC) on a mission
Jens Voigt (CSC) gives it full gas
The favourites get to the front on the final climb of the Mur
The favourites get closer…
Rebellin and Di Luca side by side
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) beats Kim Kirchen to win La Fleche Wallonne
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) salutes as he wins La Fleche Wallonne
Danilo Di Luca (Liquigas) kisses the winner's trophy
Rebellin and Di Luca congratulate each other