Finally a prize for Niewiadoma: after 5 years of drought she climbs the Wall of Huy to a liberating victory

Flèche Wallonne (women)

13:55 Return – 18:00 Return

The eternal attacker finally saw her fighting spirit rewarded. Katarzyna Niewiadoma proved to be the best climber on the Wall of Huy and won a race for the first time since 2019. Demi Vollering (2nd) and Elisa Longo Borghini (3rd) were allowed onto the podium following a rained-out Flèche Wallonne. Lotte Kopecky was the first Belgian with a fifteenth place.

The 27th Flèche Wallonne for women in a nutshell:

• Winner of the day: Katarzyna Niewiadoma was moved to tears with her victory. She was already close in 2017 and 2021 when she came second, so now she shoots off the main bird. A nice reward for a strong spring.

• Loser of the day: Is it fair to call the runner-up the loser of the day? Well, if your name is Demi Vollering. The Dutch woman has not yet won a single race this year. She wanted to change that now with Kopecky as a super servant, but unfortunately. On to Liège then?

• Killjoy of the day: Everyone was shocked in Huy: suddenly the heavens opened and it started to snow at the start. April grilling at its best? Fortunately for the riders, the bad weather only lasted for a short while and the sky cleared once more.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma is the new – unexpected – queen of the Wall of Huy.

As so often in the Flèche Wallonne, everything was decided in the last mile and a half.

The Belgian Julie Van De Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal) added color to the race. She rode in hellish weather conditions with the leading group on the attack for regarding 100 km.

When the early flight saw Huy in the distance, they shifted up a gear in the peloton. In no time their lead shrank, following the Côte d’Ereffe everything came together once more.

The Wall of Huy as a classic executioner

Then to the foot of the Wall.

Everyone looked at defending champion Demi Vollering. The other top favorites followed in her wake. The Dutch champion was at the head of the thinned out peloton for an entire kilometer, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini stuck to her wheel.

Was it Vollering’s overconfidence, or did Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini not show their cards?

A few hundred meters from the finish, the Polish woman struck: the lightweight took over from Vollering and immediately put her ahead by two lengths. Vollering seemed to be sitting à bloc, Niewiadoma had smelled blood.

Onverzettelijke Unknown

She kept up her effort and crossed the finish line first. After 5 years of drought, she finally wins another race, an Ardennes classic at that. Her fighting spirit is rewarded, she is the first Polish winner ever of the Flèche Wallonne.

A disappointed Vollering finished second in a few seconds, while Longo Borghini finished third. Lotte Kopecky rode all day in the service of her leader Vollering, she eventually finished 15th.

Result Walloon Arrow (women)

Phase by phase

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Katarzyna Niewiadoma is regarding Demi Vollering and rules the Wall of Huy

Kopecky 15e

Kopecky is the first compatriot with her 15th place. Today she worked for her leader Vollering, who just mightn’t finish.

Yet another winner! What a beautifully varied season for the women.

Ruben Van Gucht

Unknown wint!

It’s the Polish one who makes it! In a mighty way she drives the rest off the wheel on the Wall of Huy. Vollering comes in disappointed in second, Longo Borghini is third.

Niewiadoma, Vollering and Longo Borghini seem evenly matched.

Who else has a scorching gear at home?

Ruben Van Gucht

Vollering checks

Demi Vollering seems to have everything under control. Who will get in her way? For the time being, the top favorites are still together.

Markus has now been caught, but she made a creditable attempt.

Last kilometer

There’s the red rag! Who can climb the Wall of Huy best?

Markus (Team Visma – Lease a bike) takes 17″. Enough to get to the top of the Wall alone? It seems mission impossible.

Riejanne Markus now with a late lunge. The challenge, of course, is to keep it up.

Ruben Van Gucht

The party is cancelled: Longo Borghini and 3 others took a leap, but were easily picked up.

Fisher-Black crashes to the ground and has to wait for a new bike

Val Fisher-Black

Now it’s Niamh Fisher-Black who goes to the ground. She has to switch bikes and give chase.

Rooijakkers joins Van de Velde and Martin. Does she steam straight away?

Favorites have already been showing themselves in front of the Wall

Rooijakkers attack

On the spur of the Côte d’Ereffe, Pauliena Rooijakkers launches an attack. Does the Dutch woman anticipate this?