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Tom Pidcock finishes third at La Flèche Wallonne

On one of the most iconic climbs in cycling, the Mur de Huy, Tom Pidcock delivered a powerful ride to finish third at La Flèche Wallonne. The British rider crossed the line just behind winner Tadej Pogačar and runner-up Kévin Vauquelin.

23 Apr 2025

Tom Pidcock sprinted to a third place on the gruelling Mur de Huy in today’s Flèche Wallonne. This iconic climb defines the 205-kilometer long race and features three times where it traditionally comes down to the last time up. It’s only 1,2 kilometers long but with an average gradient of almost ten per cent it’s all about timing.

Pidcock timed his last climb really well by moving up to the front alongside the Meuse river and starting the climb around fifth place. When Tadej Pogacar launched his winning move, Pidcock waited and put in an attack for third on the steepest parts of the climb. This is only the third World Tour podium in the history of the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

Tom Pidcock said: “I was concentrating on staying warm because it was cold but I had lots of layers on. We are racing hard and seems to be faster every year so it’s harder to take clothes off. The team did a great job in making sure I was warm and in good position, especially Xabier Mikel, Mark, Nick and Marcel. Marcel is relatively inexperienced but he did a great job.

Then on the Mur, my hands were too cold so I couldn’t really change gear. So I was under geared and then over geared. I had to pick one. I felt better than I normally do in the rain and in the cold which is a good sign. It was a good result. Every race I get a bit better so that gives me great confidence for the weekend.”

The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team consisted of Pidcock, Marcel Camprubí, Milan Vader, Fabio Christen, Mark Donovan. Nick Zukowsky and Xabier Mikel Azparren. Behind the wheel of the Mercedes Benz team car was Michael Albasini, record holder in this race with 16 starts and eight top ten placings.

Marcel Camprubí continued his great streak in the Belgian spring Classics by finishing in 33rd place in his first Flèche. The 23-year-old from Barcelona was there to help team leader Tom Pidcock.

“I felt really good and very motivated fort his race,” he said after a warm shower. “This has always been one of my favorite races because I saw Purito Rodriguez win here on tv. Riding here was a great opportunity for me, despite the weather. We thought at the start it wouldn’t be so bad but I was really happy I chose the Vampir rainjacket [team prototype] because it was also cold.”

The rain made for chaotic racing but Marcel was prepared for that. He even liked the extra challenge.

“In these conditions the racing is even harder in this race and you can really make a difference,” Marcel continued. “My job was to go with a bigger move but that didn’t go so I stayed with Tom. I helped him position before the climbs. There was even some wind so we helped get him back after a split.”

“It’s great that he got onto the podium. I wanted to be there in the final and if I had raced smarter I could have, but I am proud of how I could help Tom,” he said. “My legs are a bit sore now because I raced a lot already this season but I just heard I get to do Liège-Bastogne-Liège as well and that is also a dream coming true. So now it’s time to recover and get ready one more time for a big Monument.”