ANNA VAN DER BREGGEN MAKES HISTORY
January 18 th 2018 - 16:50
The inaugural edition of Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes took place on a leg-breaking course, with European champion Anna van der Breggen (Boels–Dolmans) —winner of the last three editions of La Flèche Wallonne Féminine— taking her third victory of the week. After claiming the Amstel Gold Race last Sunday and La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, the Dutch champion made history by becoming the first woman to complete the legendary Ardennes treble.
A big round of applause ahead of the morning start
Mercury stagnated around 4 °C as the peloton rolled out of Place McAuliffe in Bastogne, but the morning chill did not stop fans from coming out in force to cheer on the 140-strong peloton. The crowds, whose curiosity and enthusiasm for female cycling continues to grow, showed their support for the ladies. The fans, peloton and organisers came together a few minutes before the start to pay tribute to Michele Scarponi, who was killed yesterday in a tragic training accident. A minute's applause was held in memory of the Italian rider.
The peloton headed out of Bastogne and towards Liège at 10:05 am, led by the odds-on favourite and winner of the last three editions of La Flèche Wallonne Féminine, Anna van der Breggen. The 135.5 km course featured four climbs: Côte de la Vecquée (km 82.5 – 6.7 km at 4.9%), the legendary Côte de la Redoute (km 100 – 2 km at 8.9%), Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (km 116 – 1.3 km at 11%) and Côte de Saint-Nicolas (km 130 – 1.2 km at 8.6%), which came just 10 kilometres before the finish —enough to get even the most shivery riders warmed up.
A hilly course with no second chances
Attacks came thick and fast from the first few kilometres, but the peloton shut down every breakaway attempt. The hilly course gradually sapped the strength of the peloton. The Ardennes is where things get serious. Audrey Cordon had put the cards on the table before the start: "There's no doubt Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes is the toughest Ardennes classic". The reaction came straight away and, just 20 km into the race, the bunch was already losing riders under the impetus of WM3. Several groups formed at the back and waved goodbye to their hopes of fighting for victory in the streets of Ans.
A duo holds out until La Vecquée
The peloton only eased up the pace after 47 km. FDJ-Nouvelle Aquitaine-Futuroscope's Aude Biannic seized her opportunity to break away from the main group on a downhill false flat. The French rider hovered around 20 seconds in front of the peloton until 10 kilometres later, when Jeanne Korevaar arrived from behind. The duo increased their gap to a maximum of 1′32″. However, the time for games came to an end on the first slopes of Côte de la Vecquée (km 78).
Clash of titans
The average gradient of 4.9% on Côte de la Vecquée started to thin out the peloton… from the back. The fearsome Boels–Dolmans Cycling Team marshalled its resources to literally blow up the peloton, with only 40-odd riders (including all the favourites) surviving the hectic pace on La Vecquée and then Côte de la Redoute. In the end, Elizabeth Deignan, Anna van der Breggen, Elisa Longo Borghini, Ashleigh Moolman and Katarzyna Niewiadoma decided to duke it out on Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. On their own. The final climb, Côte de Saint Nicolas, only served to increase their margin.
Van der Breggen reigns supreme
Anna van der Breggen decided to move in for the kill with 5 km to go. The European champion brought her raw power to bear and claimed her third victory of the week, beating Elizabeth Deignan by 17 seconds in the streets of Ans. 22-year-old Polish champion Katarzyna Niewiadoma took the bottom step of the podium. Van der Breggen became the first female rider to win the magic treble of Ardennes classics: Amstel Gold Race / Flèche Wallonne / Liège–Bastogne–Liège.