0
Profile

Milan Donie starts the Flèche Ardennaise with mixed feelings

With a challenging course and a strong field of competitors, the Flèche Ardennaise promises to be a tough edition once again this year. Milan Donie (20) claimed victory in the Ardennes race last year. “It’s one of the most beautiful one-day races in Belgium,” he says, looking ahead.
Race 02 May 2025
Previous Next

“The course of the Flèche Ardennaise is particularly tough, featuring nearly all the climbs in the region.” Milan Donie knows what he's talking about—he convincingly won the Flèche Ardennaise last year. And once again, the riders will face a grueling route this year: 174 kilometers with no less than 3,730 meters of elevation gain.

It’s not just the course that makes the race challenging—the line-up promises plenty of competition as well. “All the big teams are here, so the race will definitely be hard-fought.”

Still, Milan lines up with mixed feelings. His season started well, but a crash during training caused a setback. “I had a strong start to the season in Rwanda, but just before Coppi e Bartali I crashed during training and suffered a knee injury. As a result, I couldn’t train much for a few weeks, and I can feel that now in my form.”

His top form may not be there, but his commitment to the team remains as strong as ever. “Unfortunately, I don’t have big expectations this year because I’m not in peak condition,” he admits honestly. “But I hope I can support the team as much as possible and that maybe we can win again—for the second year in a row.”

 

Picture: Brecht Steenhouwer