Defending champion Anna van der Breggen (RaboLiv) beat Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) and Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) to claim the 19th edition of La Flèche Wallonne Feminine. It was RaboLiv’s 8th Flèche Wallonne win in the last 10 years.
A seven-woman group consisting of Jessica Allen (Australia), Ann-Sophie Duyck (Topsport Vlaanderen – Etixx), Sheyla Gutiérrez Ruiz (Cylance Pro Cycling), Lex Albrecht (Bepink), Emilia Fahlin (Ale Cipollini), Cecilie Johnsen (Hitec Products) and Katia Ragusa (Servetto Footon) broke away after a fast opening hour of racing.
This lead group worked well together and increased their advantage to almost 4 minutes at the top of Côte de Solières (km 51). However, the favourites’ teams, particularly RaboLiv, got to work and the leading group was caught with 32 kilometres to go.
Coming towards the end of the race, a group formed consisting of van der Breggen (RaboLiv), Stevens, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (RaboLiv), Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans), and Elia Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5).
On the final ascent of the Mur de Huy, defending champion Anna van der Breggen (RaboLiv) went clear and crossed the line with 8 seconds to spare on Stevens (Boels Dolmans) and 22 on Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans).
Five-time winner Marianne Vos came in 9th, while World Champion Lizzie Armitstead finished in 28th place.
Here are highlights of the race.
