The riders triumphed in the men’s and women’s races last year at the one-day Ardennes classic.

Van der Breggen has enjoyed a dominant run at the race as she sought a fifth consecutive triumph in this International Cycling Union (UCI) Women's World Tour event. 

The world champion featured in a near 15-strong breakaway group at the conclusion of the 118.5 kilometres event which concluded on the Mur de Huy, a 128 metres high hill.

The Dutch rider had the pace in the finishing straight to overtake Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma, the Amstel Gold Race winner, who had opened the sprint.

Van der Breggen crossed the line in a winning time of 3 hours 17min 04 sec.

Her compatriot Annemiek van Vleuten finished as the runner-up at one second back, with Denmark’s Annika Langvad a further three down to round off the podium.

The result means van der Breggen has now equalled her fellow Dutchwoman Marianne Vos’ record of five victories at the race.

Alaphilippe has enjoyed a standout sequence of performers on this year’s UCI WorldTour.

The Frenchman has won Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo events, as well as stages of the Tirreno-Adriatico and this month’s Tour of the Basque Country.

The Deceuninck-Quick-Step rider has battled with Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark for several of his victories, although the duo were stunned by Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel at the Amstel Gold Race.

Alaphilippe and Fuglsang again went head-to-head again at the conclusion of Flèche Wallonne, with both men sprinting to the line at the end of the 195.5km race.

The Frenchman again had the edge by crossing the line in 4:55:14, with Fuglsang ending the runner-up on the same time.

Diego Ulissi of Italy ended six seconds adrift in third place.