The Ardennes enjoy blowing up the predictions of the eve again. At the Amstel Gold the favorite Peter Sagan has disappointed expectations. Today at the Freccia Vallone everyone was aiming for Philippe Gilbert's high note, instead on the top of the terrible Mur d'Huy, 1200 meters with a 22% gradient, it is the Spaniard Dani Moreno who signs the most beautiful undertaking of his career as a follower. Accustomed to the spectacle offered by the Ronde and the Roubaix, we expected something more from this classic-monument that anticipates the last great race in the North, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège, by three days.
Basically, the first 204 kilometers of the race said little or nothing except that Andy Schleck, who was specially observed after his bad fall at the 2012 Tour of Switzerland, is very far from an acceptable shape, also due to a few too many beers. The Freccia made all its decisions in the last kilometre, the one that leads to the top of the Castle which dominates the city lying on the banks of the Meuse.
Here the great battle between Gilbert, Rodriguez, Sagan, Valverde was expected: however, even before it was clear who of the four big names had the most strength in their legs, the Colombian Carlos Betancur made a surprise start and immediately took a good margin, but on a wall like that of Huy every meter is an ordeal, moreover under a slightly northern sun like today's. And Gilbert, more than Sagan, immediately finished in the rear, gave the impression of believing it. Rodriguez was also vigilant at his wheel. But it was not a popular name who launched the run-up to Betancur, but a semi-unknown companion of Rodriguez, Dani Moreno who in the last hundred meters hooked and unhooked the exhausted Colombian arriving at the finish line, still having the strength to raise his arms. Behind him, with Gilbert and his companions now resigned and disappointed, came Sergio Henao who preceded his compatriot Betancur, fourth Daniel Martins and then Kwiatkowski.
Rodriguez was sixth at 8 seconds, Nocentini tenth and first of the Italians. In other words, the least predictable and least designer arrival order of all the other classics this spring. An order of arrival that makes predictions for Sunday's Liège much more cautious.
