Tour de Wallonie

The Tour de Wallonie always brings good memories to the Movistar Team, even if appearances from the Telefónica-backed squad at the Belgian event have been few and far between. We can’t forget 2014, with Juanjo Lobato’s stage victory, nor 2022, when Oier Lazkano offered his second pro exhibition while José Joaquín Rojas came close to a final victory. It’s always a leg-breaker, with a taste of the Ardennes classics -plus some cobbles- that fans really enjoy.

Even if all stages in the 2024 race are hilly -more suited to a group finish are the opener to Fleurus (Monday 22nd), with three cobbled sectors and Petit-Try (1.2km at 7%) ten kilometers from the line; and the showdown in Thuin (Friday 26th), with Oude Kwaremont (!!) early on plus a circuit over another cobbled hill-, three stages are poised to decide the end result.

On day two (Tuesday 23rd), en route to Ouffet, we climb the Côte de Géromont (1.6km, 8%) 11km before an uphill finish (3km at 4% + final slope); on stage thre (Wednesday 24th), the Queen one over +3,500m elevation, we cover Maboge (2.8km, 6.5%) and Haussire (4.1km, 6.9%) into the final circuit, plus another ascent of 3km at 4%; and on Thursday 25th, in Herve, the legendary La Redoute is crested with 50km to go and is followed by several short, sharp ascents.