There were numerous crashes in the final 50km of Fleche Wallonne and the FDJ team wa not spared.

Anthony Roux and Kevin Reza found themselves on the ground but the French aquad had the satisfaction of seeing Steve Morabito being with the best on the Mur de Huy that was dominated puncheurs. The Swiss was in a group of 30 riders that fought for a spot in the top 10. Morabitio finished just behind Nibali and a few seconds behind winner Valverde (Movistar).

"As I had expected, the new Cote de Cherave had made the peloton smaller," sports director Franck Pineau said. "Kevin and Anthony had been left behind due to crashes but until then his teammates did a very big job. You can not imagine how Olivier Le Gac and Laurent Pichon have been in the wind to protect their leaders."

Positioned at the foot of the Mur de Huy by Benoît Vaugrenard, Morabito who is better suited to long climbs rather than steep ramps, perfectly fulfilled hus mission before returning to Switzerland where he will do the Tour de Romandie next week, a race that is dear to his leader Thibaut Pinot.

For his part, manager Marc Madiot who was with Franck Pineau, made the hat trick: three classics, three broken cars.