If the men’s race was a story of a Slovenian crushing the dreams of his rivals on the Côte de la Redoute, the women’s race was a carbon copy. Just replace the Slovenian with a profoundly angry Dutchwoman.
Demi Vollering has officially completed her revenge tour of the Ardennes. After her former team, SD Worx-Protime, spent the winter doubting her and the Amstel Gold peloton allowed a tactical upset last weekend, Vollering showed up to Liège-Bastogne-Liège with losing not an option.
The 156-kilometer race was aggressive from the start, but FDJ United-Suez rode with the efficiency of a team that knew how the script was going to play out. A dangerous breakaway featuring Elise Chabbey and Visma’s Femke de Vries threatened to complicate things, but it was all brought back together right before the base of La Redoute.
And that is where FDJ executed the perfect hit. Chabbey took the front and drilled the pace so hard on the lower slopes that the peloton instantly splintered. Then, with 34 kilometers still left to race, Vollering launched, cresting La Redoute alone, and settling into a time-trial position.
A chase group formed featuring Puck Pieterse, Kasia Niewiadoma, and a recently un-retired Anna van der Breggen, who was trying to salvage the day for SD Worx. But it didn’t matter. While the chase group bickered and suffered over the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons, Vollering was busy extending her lead.
She crossed the line in Liège with a one minute and 28-second advantage, sitting up with plenty of time to orchestrate a triumphant celebration. It is her third career Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory, cementing her status as the undisputed queen of the Ardennes.
The battle for the scraps was won by Puck Pieterse, who easily out-sprinted Niewiadoma for second place, leaving Van der Breggen to settle for fourth. Special mention also goes to Paula Blasi, who backed up her shocking Amstel Gold win with a brilliant ride to take fifth.
Vollering leaves the Spring Classics with victories at Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, and Liège. She has dismantled the SD Worx monopoly, wearing her new FDJ colors like a superhero cape.
Results
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