In the rain and cold:

British outsider wins Fleche Wallonne

The British outsider Stephen Williams won the rainy and cold Ardennes cycling classic Fleche Wallonne on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old in the service of the Israel team proved to be the best of the greatly reduced field after 199 km on the fourth and final ride over the infamous wall of Huy. Williams won the uphill sprint ahead of Kevin Vauquelin (FRA/Arkea) with the same time and three seconds ahead of Maxim van Gils (BEL/Lotto).

Like many others, the Austrians Patrick Konrad and Alexander Hajek did not reach the finish line in adverse conditions. On Sunday, Liège-Bastogne-Liège will be the even tougher and better-staffed finale to the spring classics season. Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar and Felix Gall will also be taking part.