Australia's world champion Cadel Evans won the Fleche Wallonne one-day classic here on Wednesday ahead of Spanish duo Joaquin Rodriguez and Alberto Contador.
Evans, second here in 2008 and fifth last year, powered up the gruelling final 'Mur de Huy' climb to snatch victory and set down a marker for the upcoming Tour of Italy and Tour de France.
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The head of the American BMC team, runner-up in the Tour de France to Contador in 2007 and 2008, surged past his Tour de France nemesis in the final 100 metres for his first Fleche-Wallonne success.
Spaniard Igor Anton filled fourth at the end of the 198 kilometre circuit in front of Italy's Damiano Cunego and Belgium rider Philippe Gilbert.
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Russia's Alexandre Kolobnev had made a late burst for victory only to be pegged back on the final climb.
This was Evans' first win since taking possession of the world champion's rainbow jersey which he won in Mendrisio, Switzertland, last year and the first time the Fleche Wallonne was marked down for export to Australia in its 74-year history.
Evans put his dynamic performance down to a change in his training programme.
"As I'm riding in the Giro (Tour of Italy) I've had a different approach. I'm happy with my progress, but I can still improve further."
In contrast to 2008 when he went for broke too early on the final exhausting climb Evans on this occasion timed his attack to perfection.
This win has catapulted Evans into the position of favourite for Sunday's Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
"That's that negative side to my victory - now everybody's going to be watching out for me!"
Contador was satisfied with his showing in the Belgium classic.
"I'm happy enough even if I'd preferred to have won the race. I'm in good shape ahead of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege (on Sunday) but to win there you really need to know the circuit.
"It would be fantastic to win it, for me it would be like winning a big tour event because I'm not a classic specialist."
In the women's race there was a 1-2 for Great Britain with Emma Pooley and Nicole Cooke finishing ahead of third-placed Emma Johansson of Sweden.
Holland's Marianne Vos, winner of the last three editions, came in sixth.
