Graham Watson gallery: Flèche Wallone

The peloton climbs the legendary Mur de Huy in the 2012 Fleche Wallonne. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Dirk Bellemakers leads an early escape in the 2012 Fleche Wallonne. He was soon joined by Anthony Roux before the first ascent of the Mur. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

An hour in, Dirk Bellemakers (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony) and Anthony Roux (FJD-BigMat) launched an extended attack in the wet conditions. They made their move after a crash split the pack, and they gained a maximum gap of 2:25 leading up to the Mur. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Dan Martin took sixth in the 2012 Fleche Wallonne. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Christian Vande Velde finished the 2012 Fleche Wallonne 95th, more than 4 minutes down. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Andy Schleck attacked heading up to the Mur for the second time with 40km to go and Bellemakers and Roux in the lead. They were all caught, and Schleck finished 81st. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Chris Horner was 42nd in the 2012 Fleche Wallonne, 43 seconds down. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Before the final ascent of the Mur, Tom Slagter (Rabobank) and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) launched an attack that gave them a 14-second lead. Meanwhile, Robinson Chalapud (Colombia-Coldportes) crashed in the wet conditions. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Lotto and Katusha teams chased down Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) and Norway’s Lars-Peter Nordhaug (Sky) after they attacked in the final 10km. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

The effort from Lotto and Katusha teams paid off. They caught Hesjedal and Nordhaug at the base of the Mur going into the final ascent. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda) and Norway’s Lars-Peter Nordhaug (Sky) launched an attack in the final 10km, but were caught before the final climb on the Mur. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Philippe Gilbert was third, but told the press he believed Rodriguez was the "deserving winner." He is hoping for another cold race Sunday, where he's looking for a better result. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Joachin Rodriguez wom the 2012 Fleche Wallonne after two consecutive years getting second place. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com

Joachin Rodriguez said that he considered this his "most cherished" victory yet. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com