On Wednesday 23 April, the steep roads of Wallonia provided the backdrop for the 28ᵉ edition of the Flèche Wallonne Femmes. Over a demanding course of 140.7 kilometres, the athletes twice tackled the dreaded slopes of the Mur de Huy (1.3 km at an average gradient of 9.6%), once again the scene of an intense and decisive finale.
In a highly anticipated finale, Demi played out a tight mano a mano against Puck Pieterse. Perfectly led by Juliette, A valuable road captain, the Dutch rider took the lead from the very first slopes. The last relay, given by Juliette just before the steepest gradients, seemed perfect to put her leader in orbit. But it took an explosive Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) in the final 200 metres to deny our Dutchwoman victory. Demi finished 2ᵉ, just two seconds behind, in a tense finale at the summit.
Throughout the race, Juliette was essential to race management. Always well placed, the Frenchwoman was one of the main players in the peloton at key moments. In particular, it was she who set the pace on the final climb, stretching out a group of around twenty riders before dropping back in favour of her leader. Juliette finishes 7ᵉ and first French rider at the finish, a new place of honour after her 4ᵉ position in the Amstel Gold Race, and Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) completes the podium with a third place.
Évita rounded off the team’s very good overall result by taking a solid 11ᵉ position. She was well in the group of favourites in the final, confirming her form in the most demanding one-day races on the calendar.
Despite capricious weather and a dense field, the team once again demonstrated its cohesion and strategy, with team-mates giving their all and dictating the pace throughout the race.
On to the next race Liège-Bastogne-Liège for the rest of the Ardennaises this Sunday 27 April.
