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Kirchen clinches Fleche Wallonne crown

  • Story Highlights
  • Kim Kirchen claims biggest win of his career in Fleche Wallonne classic
  • He becomes first cyclist from Luxembourg to win it after daring late attack
  • The 29-year-old edged out 2007 Tour de France runner-up Cadel Evans
  • He made his move on the daunting final climb of the 199.5 km race
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(CNN) -- Luxembourg cyclist Kim Kirchen claimed the biggest win of his career with victory in pouring rain in the Fleche Wallonne classic race in Huy, Belgium, on Wednesday.

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Kim Kirchen celebrates as he crosses the finish line of the Fleche Walonne between Charleroi and Huy.

The 29-year-old, competing for the High Road team, edged out Cadel Evans of Australia -- who was just 0.01 seconds back as runner-up -- with a daring late attack on the daunting final climb of the 199.5 kilometer (124 mile) race.

Italy's Damiano Cunego claimed third ahead of Dutch riders Robert Gesink and Thomas Dekker, and Italy's two-time champion Davide Rebellin -- who all finished 0.02 off the winning pace.

"I tried the same tactic of a late attack in 2005 and I could only take second, but now I'm stronger." Kirchen, who finished in a time of 4 hours, 35 minutes and 29 seconds, told reporters.

"First I followed Davide Rebellin on the final climb because he always calculates his strength well. I was worried I might have left my attack too late, but it turned out I had calculated just right."

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Kirchen, the first cyclist from Luxembourg to win the event, said he had been boosted before the race by two stage victories in the Tour of the Basque Country earlier this month.

"I was always close last year, but after the Basque Country wins I felt more motivated and sure of my chances," he said.

Kirchen was part of a 20-strong group which broke away at the midway point in blustery conditions, before Sweden's Gustav Larsson, Germany's Fabian Wegmann and then Russia's Alexandre Efimkin hit the front.

Larsson fell five kilometers from the line, then Wegmann was caught with 500 meters to go on the final climb -- a 20 percent gradient -- and Kirchen took the chance to bolt into the lead ahead of Evans, the 2007 Tour de France runner-up.

Kirchen, who was seventh in Le Tour last year, added the victory to his wins in the 2003 Paris-Brussels and the 2005 Tour of Poland.

"I did the same as last year, only that this time I was stronger," said Kirchen, beaten to the line 12 months ago by Italian Danilo Di Luca.

Evans remained upbeat despite not winning the race.

"This result proves I am in good condition and that my first part of the season is going very well," the 31-year-old said. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

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