Fleche Wallonne is one of the most celebrated races on the calendar and this year’s edition promises to be a cracker.

Talk about the race to any cycling aficionado and they will all mention one thing – the Mur de Huy. This iconic climb is one of the toughest in the sport and features sections at a tear-inducing 26% gradient. The riders will tackle it three times before the finish, and the addition of the Côte de Cherave just before it this year means the race will be one of the most selective in years.

The fact that the Mur has been included on the third stage of this year’s Tour de France will also give the race some added spice, and many of the Grand Tour contenders will descend on the Ardennes this Wednesday to sample it as a dress rehearsal for July.

Chris Froome is among those riders, and he heads up a Team Sky line up brimming with talent that also includes Phil Deignan, Sergio Henao, Peter Kennaugh, Vasil Kiryienka, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Wout Poels and Nicolas Roche.

Froome and Henao are expected to lead the team after the Colombian finished second in the race two years ago.