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).