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Huy (AP) - In the big exchange of blows between the top favorites on the Mur von Huy, the German professional cyclist Maximilian Schachmann fought his way to tenth place in the Belgian classic Flèche Wallonne.
Against the force of world champion Julian Alaphilippe, who overtook Tour de France runner-up Primoz Roglic with his explosive start a few meters from the finish line after 193.6 kilometers, the Berliner had no chance.
Third place went to the Spanish veteran Alejandro Valverde, who has already won the race five times.
As in 2018 and 2019, Alaphilippe delivered a tactical masterpiece.
Although Roglic had already pulled out a large lead on the 1.3 kilometer final climb with an average gradient of 9.5 percent, the Frenchman countered at the right time to be the first to cross the finish line with his world championship jersey.
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The final climb with inclines of up to 19 percent was a bit too steep for Schachmann.
Nevertheless, the Bora-hansgrohe professional was in good shape.
He had already finished third in the Amstel Gold Race last weekend, and on Sunday at the next Ardennes classic, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, he will also be one of the favorites.
Last year's winner Marc Hirschi and Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar, however, were condemned to watch.
In the UAE team, the Italian Diego Ulissi and a member of the supervisory staff tested positive for Corona.
Both had a negative result in a second check, but the Belgian authorities forbade the start.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210421-99-296634 / 3
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