The route of La Flèche Wallonne Femmes features two rounds. With 18 kilometres done Côte d’Ereffe is crested – 2.1 kilometres at 5%, albeit the average gradient is misleading as the first 1.5 kilometres are a lot steeper than that, while the last few hundred metres are a false flat. Other climbs in the first round are Côte d’Amay and Côte de Villers le Bouillet
The Ardennes are nowhere near flat, but the Wall of Huy is extreme. With 91 kilometres done the first passage is a fact after a 1.3 kilometres climb at 9.6%. Again, this average figure is biased. In the first 400 metres the Wall may look like nothing special, but the next 400 metres are telling another story with an average gradient of 11% Then the steepest section kicks in with a 17% grade for 100 metres. Still not there as the following 300 metres are averaging at 14% before the last 100 metres are relatively easy at 6%.
On the top of the Wall of Huy the second round commences. At 29 kilometres, this lap takes in another climb up the Côte d’Ereffe before the route continues to Côte de Cherave, a 1.3 kilometre climb at 8.1% that’s crested with 5.5 kilometres to go. So on top of the Cherave it’s only 4.2 kilometres to the foot of the last climb, which is the iconic Wall of Huy.
Both in 2015 and 2016 Anna van der Breggen attacked on the slopes of Côte de Cherave before winning La Flèche Wallonne Femmes.
Results/race report La Flèche Wallonne Femmes.
La Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2017: Route maps, height profiles, and more
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Route and profile La Flèche Wallonne Femmes
Profile La Flèche Wallonne Femmes
Final kilometres
Route and profile final lap
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Route and profile Mûr de Huy
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Streetview steepest part Mûr de Huy
Mûr de Huy at strava.com