Mike Woods and Jakob Fuglsang Team Up for La Flèche Wallonne

Israel – Premier Tech is ready to make its mark at La Flèche Wallonne with strong riders Mike Woods and Jakob Fuglsang leading the charge.

Sports Director Steve Bauer emphasizes the significance of the race, stating, “La Flèche Wallonne is a really great opportunity for our team. We obviously have two very strong leaders in Mike Woods and Jakob Fuglsang who have both done great performances here in the past and have been on the podium. Perhaps this will be our year with one of those men. It’s all about the Mur de Huy. If we can position our guys for the final lap and they have good power, that’s what it’s all about. There is no secret here in Flèche, it’s all about the Mur.”

Woods is confident in his form after his performance in the Basque Country and is eager to test his legs in the upcoming race. He says, “The big goal is to turn a page here. I raced in the Basque Country last week and started off not where I wanted to be but ended where I wanted to be. I didn’t win, I wasn’t in the front group at the very end but that was more a technical error on my part. But, the legs were there so that’s given me a lot of confidence for tomorrow. This is a race that has always suited me. I’ve had success here, finishing third two years ago and fourth last year. I want to improve on that.”

For Woods, the race is likely to be more challenging this year with a return to a more traditional route. He explains, “I think this year might be a bit different as the course is back to a more traditional route compared to the last two years, which had a less difficult run in. This year, there is an extra climb before the finish and that may reduce the bunch a bit more and make it easier to position ahead of the Mur which is good for me, if I have the legs.“

Jakob Fuglsang, another strong contender, shares the sentiment. He states, “I’m feeling good and I’m motivated to race well tomorrow. We have a strong team here and obviously, this is a race that really suits Mike. You never know how you’re feeling until you hit the Mur and then it’s all about the legs and nothing more. I think we can come away from the race with a good result and get some good hard racing in the legs before Liège – Bastogne – Liège.”

With Woods and Fuglsang leading the way, Israel – Premier Tech hopes to achieve a notable result at La Flèche Wallonne and gain valuable racing experience ahead of Liège – Bastogne – Liège.