Fleisch Wallon: He won’t challenge Evenpoel and Teun Pogakar

Dylan Tunes will not succeed himself as winner of the Flèche Wallonne (WorldTour). His team, Israel-Premier Tech confirmed Tuesday morning that the ailing Limburger will not be able to appear at the starting line of the 87th edition.

Unfortunately, defender Dylan Tunes did not recover from his illness in time to line up.Announce his team. He added, “A decision will be made regarding his participation in Liege-Bastogne-Liege in the coming days.”

Teuns, 31, has been suffering from the flu which has also prevented him from participating in the Brabant Arrow and Amstel Gold Race.

Last year, Teuns, who at the time was playing for Bahrain-Victorious, won the Mur de Huy ahead of five-time winner Alejandro Valverde.

In Teuns’ absence, Israel-Premier Tech will count on Canadian Michael Woods, supported by countrymen Guillaume Boivin and Hugo Houle, Australians Simon Clarke and Nick Schultz, Latvian Krists Neilands and South African Daryl Impey.

Tadej Pogacar will aim for Arrow double – LBL

Winner of Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race, Pogacar will be the big favorite on Wednesday’s slopes of the Mur du Huy on Flèche Wallonne. The Italian Slovenian Diego Ulissi, Swiss Marc Hirschi, Austrian Felix Groschartner, Norwegian Vegard Stick Langen and New Zealanders George Bennett and Michael Fink will be surrounded.

As for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, where Pogacar will face Remco Evenepoel, the defending champions at La Doyenne, the UAE will play the same team except for Vink, who will be replaced by Dutchman Sjoerd Bax.

Absence of Remco Evenepoel on Flèche

Soudal-Quick Step on Monday announced the riders who will start the Flèche Wallonne (WorldTour), which will connect Herve to the Mur de Huy over 194.3km on Wednesday. Andrea Baggioli should take over as leader in the absence of three-time winner Julian Alaphilippe, who has a knee injury following a fall at the Tour of Flanders.

From Hervé, Wolfpack will play four Belgians: Dries Devinens, Peter Seri, Ilan van Wilder and Louis Verwijk. They will be accompanied on the roads of the Ardennes by Swiss Mauro Schmid, British James Knox and Italian Andrea Baggioli.

Baggioli, who finished eighth on Arrows Brabant and sixth in the Amstel Gold Race, should be the leader of the Belgian formation on Wednesday. “We can be confident of seeing Flèche Wallonne”commented sporting director Geert van Bondt. “We believe in our chances and hope to have a good race.”

Remco Evenepoel, who came back from a track at altitude, will skip the race but will defend his title on Sunday in Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Julian Alaphilippe could also return to Liege, after missing the Amstel Gold Race.

Source: Belgium