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Ivan Basso was tight-lipped about his chances prior to the start. The short, steep finish at La Flèche Wallonne doesn't suit him. He finished 50th + 0:54. | 
Andy Schleck was also tight-lipped at the start. He was one of the pre-race favorites, but finished only slightly better than Basso, 44th + 0:49. | 
A glorious day for a bike ride through the trees... |
and meandering around the farmland in the Ardenees | 
This four man break built up a lead of over 17 minutes at one point | 
All eyes were on the peloton to see whether they could reel them back in |
Steep Mur de Huy (1.3 km, 9.3%) was climbed three times including the finish | 
The final (steep) bend with 300m to go: Philippe Gilbert and the peloton catching and passing the two riders that jumped with 500m to go... | 
Close-up: Some big names (Contador, F. Schleck, S. Sanchez, Vino) about to be left in the dust |
Philippe Gilbert making his winning move | 
Philippe Gilbert gives a glance over at Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervélo) | 
Guess which one of these guys is feeling it more than the other? |
Gilbert kept stretching... | 
and stretching his lead | 
Another dominating uphill finish performance by Philippe Gilbert |
He had time to celebrate early again with the other riders way in the distance | 
Your 2011 winner Fleche Wallonne winner | 
More publicity for Omega Pharma Lotto |
For the second time in four days, Joaquím Rodríguez Olivier (Spa) Katusha was runner-up to Gilbert | 
Euskaltel-Euskadi's Sammy Sanchez was third followed by Alexandre Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana, Sanchez's teammate Igor Anton (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi, 6th Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto celebrating his teammate's win, 7th Fränk Schleck (Lux) Leopard Trek. In between Schleck and Vino, in the distance, is Alberto Contador who finished 11th + 0:15. | 
Some thought the Mur de Huy finish (1.3 km, 9.3%) was too steep for Gilbert. |
Your 2011 Fleche Wallonne podium: 2nd Joaquím Rodríguez Olivier (Spa) Katusha + 0:03, 1st Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 4:54:57 , 3rd Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi + 0:05 | 
Your men's and women's F-W winners, Philippe Gilbert and Marianne Vos (Ned/ Nederland Bloeit), who won earlier in the day | 
Your 2011 Fleche Wallonne women's podium: 2nd Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - UCK + 0:03, 1st Marianne Vos (Ned) Nederland Bloeit 2:58:27 , 3rd Judith Arndt (Ger) HTC Highroad Women + 0:06. MORE PHOTOS TO COME |
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