Anna van der Breggen solos to Liege-Bastogne-Liege victory

Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) continues to dominate the Ardennes classics, winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège and defending her lead in the UCI Women's WorldTour. Amanda Spratt (Mitchelton-Scott) finished second after her daring solo was ended by van der Breggen with 5km to go, Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott) rounded out the podium, winning a two-up sprint against Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervélo Bigla).

Starting in Bastogne, the women raced 136km through the Ardennes to the finish in the Liège suburb of Ans. There were four classified climbs, but the whole parcours was a continuous up-and-down. As was the case with the Flèche Wallonne, almost none of the race was televised live. Only the very last 200 metres were spliced into the men's broadcast with no prior notice given even to the commentators.

A breakaway of three riders formed early in the race. They held an advantage of just over a minute until the 6.7-kilometre Côte de La Vecquée started with 59km to go. Here, the peloton set a hard pace, dropping numerous riders and reducing the gap to the break. Julie van de Velde (Lotto Soudal Ladies) counter-attacked and joined Vita Heine (Hitec Products-Birk Sport) close to the top of the climb, but the peloton was only 12 seconds behind.

The duo was caught before the next climb, and the peloton exploded on the two-kilometre, 8.9% Côte de La Redoute: Only 20 riders remained at the top. An attack by Alena Amialiusik (Canyon-SRAM) set up a strong move by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Canyon-SRAM) who got away and built an advantage of up to 55 seconds on the following kilometres.

Cresting at 20km from the finish, the Côte de La Roche-aux-Faucons spelled the end of Ferrand-Prévot's solo: The chasers had reduced the gap to less than 20 seconds before the climb, and Moolman-Pasio attacked on the 11% slopes and joined the Frenchwoman. She brought van der Breggen and Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) with her, and van Vleuten came up shortly afterwards while Ferrand-Prévot was dropped.

Van der Breggen led the quartet of favourites over the top, 25 seconds ahead of a chasing group with Amanda Spratt, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Sabrina Stultiens (WaowDeals), Ellen van Dijk (Team Sunweb), and Shara Gillow (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) in addition to Ferrand-Prévot. The six chasers caught the frontrunners with 18km to go, and Spratt immediately attacked.

No rider wanted to take the responsibility to chase down the Australian and possibly destroy their own chances in the process, and with 10km to go Spratt held a gap of 55 seconds on a chase group of around 15 riders. Attacks started flying in the chase group, bringing the gap down to less than 45 seconds coming into the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, 1.2km at 8.6% and cresting with only 5.5km to the line.

Van der Breggen, Moolman-Pasio, and van Vleuten attacked from the chase group on the Saint-Nicolas, and at the top van der Breggen had dropped the two others and was chasing Spratt on her own. The Dutchwoman caught Spratt with 5km to go, van Vleuten and Moolman-Pasio were 25 seconds behind.

Spratt took the wheel of van der Breggen and let her do the work, but had nothing left to respond to van der Breggen's acceleration on the uphill drag to the finish line. Van der Breggen took her second Liège-Bastogne-Liège victory in as many editions, Spratt was the runner-up about 50 metres behind. Van Vleuten outsprinted Moolman-Pasio for the third podium place.

Van der Breggen extends her lead in the UCI Women's WorldTour classification. With the classics season now over, the race series continues with the Tour of Chongming Island stage race in China, April 26-28.

Listen to van der Breggen talk about her victory in a post-race interview with Voxwomen below, and watch the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race highlights video.

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam3:34:23
2Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton Scott Women0:00:06
3Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton Scott Women0:00:58
4Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team0:01:00
5Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb Women0:01:13
6Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Pauline Ferrand Prevot (Fra) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 6 - Cell 2
8Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 7 - Cell 2
9Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Rossella Ratto (Ita) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 9 - Cell 2
11Janneke Ensing (Ned) Ale CipolliniRow 10 - Cell 2
12Danielle Rowe (GBr) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Erica Magnaldi (Ita) BePinkRow 12 - Cell 2
14Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM Racing0:01:29
15Ruth Winder (USA) Team Sunweb Women0:01:33
16Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM Racing0:01:34
17Alison Jackson (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank0:01:38
18Eugenia Bujak (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana0:01:46
19Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb Women0:02:23
20Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport0:02:34
21Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Movistar Team WomenRow 20 - Cell 2
22Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 21 - Cell 2
23Ane Santesteban (Spa) Ale CipolliniRow 22 - Cell 2
24Krista Doebel-Hickok (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 23 - Cell 2
25Lara Vieceli (Ita) Astana Women's TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Lauren Stephens (USA) Cylance Pro Cycling0:02:36
27Eva Buurman (Ned) Trek-DropsRow 26 - Cell 2
28Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 27 - Cell 2
29Kelly Van Den Steen (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies0:02:38
30Paulien Rooijakkers (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Brodie Chapman (Aus) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 30 - Cell 2
32Asja Paladin (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 31 - Cell 2
33Liane Lippert (Ger) Team Sunweb WomenRow 32 - Cell 2
34Ingrid Lorvik (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 33 - Cell 2
35Eri Yonamine (Jpn) Wiggle High5Row 34 - Cell 2
36Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) Team Virtu CyclingRow 35 - Cell 2
37Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-DropsRow 36 - Cell 2
38Omer Shapira (Isr) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 37 - Cell 2
39Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Polona Batagelj (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana0:02:48
41Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team0:03:14
42Rozanne Slik (Ned) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope0:03:20
43Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam0:05:10
44Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Astana Women's Team0:05:52
45Victorie Guilman (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 44 - Cell 2
46Alicia Gonzalez (Spa) Movistar Team Women0:05:54
47Evita Muzic (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 46 - Cell 2
48Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb WomenRow 47 - Cell 2
49Spela Kern (Slo) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Martina Ritter (Aut) Wiggle High5Row 49 - Cell 2
51Juliette Labous (Fra) Team Sunweb WomenRow 50 - Cell 2
52Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team0:06:00
53Claudia Koster (Ned) Team Virtu Cycling0:06:24
54Riejanne Markus (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Kathrin Hammes (Ger) Trek-DropsRow 54 - Cell 2
56Marianne Vos (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Marion Sicot (Fra) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 56 - Cell 2
58Alice Cobb (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 57 - Cell 2
59Demi de Jong (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 58 - Cell 2
60Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 59 - Cell 2
61Tetiana Riabchenko (Ukr) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 60 - Cell 2
62Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Lisa Klein (Ger) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 62 - Cell 2
64Lourdes Oyarbide (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 63 - Cell 2
65Clara Koppenburg (Ger) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Emilia Fahlin (Swe) Wiggle High5Row 66 - Cell 2
68Georgia Williams (NZl) Mitchelton Scott WomenRow 67 - Cell 2
69Axelle Dubau Prevot (Fra) Experza-FootlogixRow 68 - Cell 2
70Urska Pintar (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 69 - Cell 2
71Dalia Muccioli (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 70 - Cell 2
72Anabelle Dreville (Fra) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 71 - Cell 2
73Mayuko Hagiwara (Jpn) Ale CipolliniRow 72 - Cell 2
74Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Trek-DropsRow 73 - Cell 2
75Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Wiggle High50:06:29
76Moniek Tenniglo (Ned) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope0:06:39
77Julie Van De Welde (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies0:06:45
78Doris Schweizer (Swi) Team Virtu CyclingRow 77 - Cell 2
79Silvia Pollicini (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 78 - Cell 2
80Charlotte Bravard (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope0:06:56
81Saartje Vandenbroucke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 80 - Cell 2
82Chiara Zanettin (Ita) Valcar PBM0:07:15
83Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Ale Cipollini0:07:33
84Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Valcar PBM0:08:26
85Charlotte Becker (Ger) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 84 - Cell 2
DNFLex Albrecht (Can) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 85 - Cell 2
DNFSofia Beggin (Ita) Astana Women's TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
DNFFlavia de Oliveira (Bra) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFSeverine Eraud (Fra) Experza-FootlogixRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFLotte van Hoek (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Grant (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley BankRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFNathalie Bex (Bel) Experza-FootlogixRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFJessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton Scott WomenRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFChristina Schweinberger (Aut) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFLouise Norman Hansen (Den) Team Virtu CyclingRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFSara Mustonen Lichan (Swe) Experza-FootlogixRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFMarieke van Witzenburg (Ned) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFMarcella Toldi (Bra) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFJip van den Bos (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesca Pattaro (Ita) BePinkRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFSilvia Valsecchi (Ita) BePinkRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFNicole Hanselmann (Swi) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFAgnieszka Skalniak (Pol) Experza-FootlogixRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFNatalya Saifutdinova (Kaz) Astana Women's TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFChristina Perchtold (Aut) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFVita Heine (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFIsabelle Beckers (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFChristina Malling Siggaard (Den) Team Virtu CyclingRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFDaniela Reis (Por) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFJessy Druyts (Bel) Experza-FootlogixRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFKathrin Schweinberger (Aut) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFLorena Llamas (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMargarita Victoria Garcia (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFChantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFElisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFElizabeth Holden (GBr) Trek-DropsRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFAnna Christian (GBr) Trek-DropsRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) BePinkRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFJenelle Crooks (Aus) Mitchelton Scott WomenRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFLisa Morzenti (Ita) BePinkRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFEmma Norsgaard (Den) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFSheyla Gutierrez (Spa) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFUrska Bravec (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFMaaike Boogaard (Ned) BTC City LjubljanaRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFLucy Garner (GBr) Wiggle High5Row 124 - Cell 2
DNFElisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5Row 125 - Cell 2
DNFAnisha Vekemans (Bel) Ale CipolliniRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFKarlijn Swinkels (Ned) Ale CipolliniRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFRachel Neylan (Aus) Movistar Team WomenRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFKatia Ragusa (Ita) BePinkRow 129 - Cell 2

 

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Join now for unlimited access

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Lukas Knöfler started working in cycling communications in 2013 and has seen the inside of the scene from many angles. Having worked as press officer for teams and races and written for several online and print publications, he has been Cyclingnews’ Women’s WorldTour correspondent since 2018.

Latest on Cyclingnews