On Wednesday, April 22, Julien Alaphilippe of Dečuninck-Quickstep won his third consecutive Belgian One-Day Classic, Flèche Wallonne, and would have moved another step closer to Movistar's Alejandro Valverde's record of five Belgian One-Day Classic wins!

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Although the Flèche Wallonne is no longer held in its rightful place on the calendar due to the coronavirus outbreak, this prestigious race is usually held between Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

"When you are the defending champion, there is always pressure.

"It's kind of a positive pressure, a motivational pressure.

One of the three major Ardennes classics, the Flèche Wallonne, first held in 1936, features a final two laps that climb the famous Mule de Huy three times.

"The last time (2019) the Mule was different from 2018," Alaphilippe said. 'Of course, we were in a very good position again, but this time one rider decided to go from distance. I wasn't surprised when Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) went, he opened a good gap. Once I got back on his wheel, I delayed as long as I could and held my own. It was a hard earned victory and I am very happy.

Alaphilippe explained that winning in Flèche the previous year was a completely different experience.

"I had no idea what was going on," the Frenchman said of crossing the line at the top of Mul de Huy to win the 2018 title. 'I knew Valverde was behind me, but I didn't know who was still in front of me.'

"After the finish I was completely empty. But soon my cousin Franck (Alaphilippe's trainer, who later joined the team full-time) and the team's soignées came and told me I had won. I'll never forget that emotion.

Previous victories included two stages and the overall win at the 2016 Tour of California and a stage win at the 2017 Vuelta a España, but Alaphilippe noted that his win at the 2018 Flèche was his first classic victory.

"I love this race, I knew it was perfect for me, and I had high expectations with my previous podium finishes," said Alaphilippe, who had finished second in both 2015 and 2016.

"Going into the race, I already had some great wins under my belt, but that win was more than just a win. I feel like this win really pushed me up another gear, and I'm really proud of myself for that.

"A win always feels good, but the 2019 victory came at the end of a very successful early season and felt a bit special. I can't tell you how motivated I was to take advantage of my best conditions to win, and I'm so happy to do it and end a beautiful spring," said Alaphilippe, who last year won the Vuelta a San Juan, Tour Colombia 2, Tour Colombia 3, and Tour Colombia 4. Alaphilippe, who won stages at the Vuelta a San Juan, Tour Colombia 2, Tour Colombia 3 and Tour Colombia 4 last year. 1, won the Tirreno-Adriatico and Tour of the Basque Country, and took the Classic win in Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo.

Paris-Nice was his last major race this spring due to the coronavirus.

A third win at Flèche Wallonne later this year would tie Alaphilippe with Belgian rider Marcel Quinto's three consecutive wins from 1943-1945, while Valverde boasts a 2006 victory and a four-year winning streak from 2014 to 2017.