The 2025 edition of La Flèche Wallonne, one of the most thrilling one-day classics on the calendar promises another brutal showdown on the legendary slopes of the Mur de Huy. While all eyes may be on Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel, a strong British contingent will also be in action, each rider hoping to muscle into the mix and emulate last year’s remarkable performance.
Seven British riders line up at this year’s Flèche Wallonne.
Leading the charge is Stephen Williams (Israel–Premier Tech), the surprise victor in 2024, who returns to defend his crown. A seasoned campaigner across both stage races and hilly classics, with wins at the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Britain to his name, Williams will take on the final ascent of the Mur with confidence – drawing strength from last year’s heroics.
Alongside him is his young teammate Joe Blackmore, who will be making his debut at the Flèche. Blackmore has had a sensational season, bagging victories at the Tour of Rwanda, the U23 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and most notably, the 2024 edition of the Tour de l’Avenir. With a punchy kick and sharp tactical nous, the 21-year-old could spring a surprise on his elder rivals.
Over at Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Tom Pidcock spearheads a youthful squad. A true all-rounder, Pidcock has already proven his mettle on punchy terrain with wins at Strade Bianche, the Brabantse Pijl, and that unforgettable solo victory on Alpe d’Huez during the Tour de France. Add to that his two consecutive Olympic golds in mountain bike cross-country, and it’s clear he’s one to watch. He’s joined by Mark Donovan, whose experience on rolling terrain could prove useful on the attritional run-in to Huy.
Ben Tulett (Visma | Lease a Bike) also takes to the start with ambitions of his own. The 2023 Tour of Norway winner has shown he can mix it with the best on undulating terrain, with solid rides at the Tour of Poland and beyond. Meanwhile, Team Picnic–POSTNL fields two promising talents in Oscar Onley and Bjoern Koerdt. Onley has already made a name for himself with strong showings at the Tour of Britain and the Tour of Guangxi, while Koerdt, just 20 years old, makes his debut in a major classic after turning heads at the Boucle de l’Artois and the Tour du Charollais earlier this season.
With six of the seven British riders aged under 25 – Williams the only exception – this youthful squad represents not only current ambition but future potential. British fans will have more than enough reason to tune in and see whether one of them can challenge the likes of Pogačar, Evenepoel, or the much-anticipated Julian Alaphilippe, and perhaps cause an upset on that unforgiving final ascent.
How to watch: In France, the 2025 Flèche Wallonne will be broadcast live on France 3 from 14:35 local time. UK viewers can follow the action on TNT Sports or stream it via Discovery+ from 11:45 BST – both platforms require a subscription.
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