IRELAND’S DAN MARTIN was reeled in over the final metres as he finished second in the famous Fleche Wallonne race today.
Alejandro Valverde timed his attack to perfection on the gruelling Mur de Huy to win the race for the second time with Poland’s Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland finishing third.
“They say that you have to learn how to race this last climb,” Martin said.
“Every year I seem to get a little bit better but again I was a little too far back at the bottom of the climb.
With a few hundred metres to go I did think I might have had it but [Valverde] flew past and left me for dead.
Last year’s winner Dani Moreno could finish only ninth with Amstel Gold Race winner Philippe Gilbert 10th.