Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-Quick-Step edged Slovenian Primoz Roglič of Jumbo-Visma in the final metres to clinch victory in 4hr 36min 25sec in Huy.

Roglič opened up a gap only for Alaphilippe to claw his way back before winning the International Cycling Union World Tour race in the Belgian municipality.

It was Alaphilippe’s third La Flèche Wallonne triumph after his victories in 2018 and 2019.

"The team did great work all day for me," said Alaphilippe in a report by Cycling News.

"They gave me a lot of confidence and I was able to save energy all day thanks to them.

"In the finale, I knew what I had to do.

"It hurt.

"I was perfectly placed.

"I was able to climb the Mur in the first positions and then it's the legs that make the difference.

"I knew it wasn’t going to be easy with Roglič and with Valverde on my wheel but I got there.

"I just wanted to show I had a strong head.

"Since the start of the season I haven't won a lot, and that didn't stop me having fun, but I really wanted to raise my arms again.

"I put some pressure on myself - not pressure, but I wanted to win again.

"It does me an enormous amount of good to win, especially in the jersey.

"I'm really happy."

The men’s race started without the UAE Team Emirates after Diego Ulissi and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 on the eve of the race.

UAE Team Emirates confirmed the duo later returned negative tests but the team were unable to compete.

"Though the team is frustrated by the ruling, we fully accept the final decision of the Belgian authorities," a statement from UAE Team Emirates read.

"The team will withdraw from the race and undergo further testing with the aim to start Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday."

In the women’s event, van der Breggen continued her Flèche Wallonne Féminine dominance with her seventh straight title in Huy.

The Team SD Worx rider, who has won the event every year since 2015, came out on top with a winning time of 3:28:27.

Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Canyon-SRAM tried to stay with van der Breggen but had to settle for second as her rival moved clear in the final 100 metres.

Third place went to Italian Elisa Longo Borghini of Trek-Segafredo.

"The race was hard from the beginning, the pace was really high on all the climbs," said van der Breggen who is set to retire after this year’s rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

"It was a good battle with Kasia and she was strong, but I am really happy I could win this one.

"It is a strange thought that I am sitting here for the last time in this race.

"But next year I won’t bother the girls anymore, it’s up to somebody else, and that’s a good thing.

"Seven straight wins is incredible."