The riders started the classic just before noon and completed it in just under 200 kilometres, crossing the Muur van Huy three times. Flèche Wallonne's course follows a traditional pattern: a lead group breaks away early on, is later reeled in, and the race is decided on the final climb to the top of the Muur van Huy.

This also applied to the 2023 edition. The last remaining breakaway rider was caught in the first few metres of the Muur. Benoot manoeuvred himself into a good position at the foot of the climb with the help of his teammates. Then it was time to move towards the front. The winner of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne got slightly boxed in but still managed to advance to seventh place. Tadej Pogacar proved too good for the competition and won the race.

"I can live with the result", Benoot said. "I was in a good position at the foot of the climb. I then dropped a few places because I got boxed in. I felt I could still pick up speed until five hundred metres from the finish, and I overtook many riders. With this result, I can continue towards Sunday's race. The Flèche Wallonne is for true specialists. I can be proud of how I presented myself at the front."

Sports director Frans Maassen agreed with his rider. "As a team, we are at peace with the result. We would have never signed for a seventh and eleventh place beforehand, but given that we didn't have any true specialists for this work in the race, this is a respectable outcome. It also gives us confidence for Sunday, when the next monument is on the programme with Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Today it came down to good timing and a strong last kilometre. I think we managed to do both."