As it happened: La Redoute proves pivotal launching the winning, solo move at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes

Good afternoon for another late start and the last of the Spring Classics, Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

We roll out for a short neutralised section at 13:25 local time, but teams are already signing on at the start. Here, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi are being presented, they're likely to be riding for former Spanish champion, Usoa Ostolaza.

Today's race is slightly mis-named, starting not in Liège, but way down in the south of Belgium, close to the Luxembourg border, in Bastogne. Whatever, the route takes us north through the Ardennes forest, to finish in Liège.

Before we crack on with today's race, let's take a look at what happened earlier this week.

On Wednesday Demi Vollering won La Flèche Wallonne with a superlative finish on the Mur de Huy.

Winning Amstel Gold Race last weekend and finishing third at La Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) is flying!

As the last of the Spring Classics, Liège is the final and most prestigious of the three so-called Ardennes Classics, and last year was a cracker.

Kim Le Court winning in a four-woman sprint.

Two women have dominated the race over the years, with Annemiek van Vleuten and Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) both winning twice and finishing on the podium twice.
Anna van der Breggen (SD-Worx-Protime) also has two wins

But can anyone beat Vollering?

While the men's race is know as La Doyenne, and is the oldest Classic on the calendar, the women's Liège-Bastogne-Liège is far from old, indeed, this is only the 10th edition.
That doesn't prevent it being important, tough or hard-fought, like the other Classics, and we can expect a great race to be run over today's 156km route.

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And we're off for a short, 4.8km neutralised section, heading north and out of town where the racing proper kicks off.

It's a beautiful, sunny day in southern Belgium today, with high temperatures of about 18º and what wind there is blows from the East, though at about 10km/h it'll have little or no effect on the race.

The flag has dropped and we're racing! You might think Belgium is flat, but this is the hilliest of all the Classics, with 2,700m of vertical ascent and 10 classified climbs over the 156km.

156km to go

Unlike the earlier Classics in the year, today's climbs are longer, but also steep, adding to the challenge. The first of those 10 climbs is the Col Haussire, which comes after 28.9km and, at 3.9km at 6.8% gradient, certainly gives a taste of what's to come.

Without last year's winner, Kim Le Court, who is out injured following a crash at the Tour of Flanders, AG Insurance-Soudal have had to reassess their Ardennes campaign.

"We want to show our resilience," said sports director, Jolien D'hoore.

It's been an aggressive start and two riders, one for St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 and one Cofidis briefly escaped, though they've now been brought back.

Canadian champion, Alison Jackson (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) has also tired her luck but is caught too. St Michel are certainly up for the fight today.

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypto) is certainly one of the riders to watch in Liège today. After missing some races folioing her horror crash at Milan-Sanremo, the Polish champion was second at Amstel Gold Race and fourth at Wednesday's La Flèche Wallonne.

The Polish champion is optimistic, despite that crash.

The peloton is all together, despite the attacks from St Michel. Here, Emilie Morier tries her luck.

145km to go

We've now got five riders up the road, though the bunch are chasing hard. This could be the one though.

And they're caught again. They've been flying in these opening kilometres, with the average speed upwards of 44km/h.

At 156km, this year's race is the longest of all 10 editions. The first edition in 2017 was only 135.5km, but the distance has crept up over the years.

We've had a crash in the peloton with World Champion, Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) caught up. Everyone involved is up and riding though.

And we have a solo leader! This time St Michel have Heidi Franz up the road, though the American rider only has a few seconds on the bunch.

Early in the race's history it was won solo more often than not, but as talent in the peloton has become deeper we've seen more small groups. 2024 was decided by a group of six, the now retired Grace Brown taking the win.

It seems the peloton isn't allowing anyone to get away, Franz is now caught. It might not be the favourites' teams bringing the attacks back, it could be other teams who are also interested in getting away who bring each move back but then can't capitalise.

We're onto the first classified climb of the day, the Col de Haussire. It's 3.9km in length at an average of 6.8% gradient.

130km to go

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Oddly, the highest point of the race is not the top one of the classified climbs, it comes not long after this climb, after 42.7km at the Baraque de Fraiture, and it's 649m above sea level.

A small group of riders have been shelled out of the peloton on this climb, they include Alison Jackson, who was on the attack earlier.
This is not a perfect race for her, but her leadership and exerience will be hugely valuable to her St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93 team.

Even with more that 125km to go we have a dangerous solo attacker, with Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ) up the road.
She's with Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike), Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek), Nienke Vinke (SD Worx-Protime) and Sara Casasola (Fenix-Premier Tech) and the five women lead by 30 seconds.

We're over the climb now, Chabbey, De Vries, Markus, Vinke and Casasola have 30 seconds on the peloton, while the dropped riders we mentioned earlier are a further 90 seconds back.

All change! Again.
The group of five leaders have been caught as we climb the gentle ascent towards the highest point of the race.

There's a change of kit for AG Insurance-Soudal today, the Belgian squad are riding in support of Donate Plasma, so look out for a slightly different look today. At least they'll be easy to spot while riding for a good cause!

It's a fair old distance until the next classified climb. The Côte de Wanne comes with 88km to go and signals the start of a series of ascents which define the race.

120km to go

The riders won't have the opportunity to look, but there are few more beautiful places than the Ardennes on a fine spring day.

More attacks.
This time Femke Gerritse (SD Worx-Protime) is on the move, leading by 30 seconds. Over the last few races SD Worx have been very active, even if they've been unable to bag a big win.
Their problem is that Anna van der Breggen is not currently in the chasing peloton, though we don't know why.

Van der Breggen being out the back is big news, she's won twice and would have started the day as one of SD Worx's leaders, though Lotte Kopecky and Mischa Bredewold can also do very well.

Luckily for SD Worx, Van der Breggen is back in the peloton. It may well be that she had a mechanical issue or went back to the car for some other reason.

120km

Femke Gerritse has been allowed her head and now leads by 1.20.
We have a long period of descending before we reach the Côte de Wanne.

Gerritse has built a substantial lead of 2.10 now, by far and away the biggest lead of the race so far.

With Gerritse's lead now established the race has settled a little. The Dutch rider leads by 2.20.

100km to go

It might be well over a year away yet, but details of the opening three stages of the 2027 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift were announced this week.

Expect a team time trial and some epic climbing.

We'll reach the Côte de Wanne soon, which is the preface to three climbs within 10km. After Wanne we have the very tough Côte de Stockeau the Côte de Haute Levée.

These three ascents may not produce the winning selection, they may not catch Gerritse here, but some riders are almost certain to be dropped, their race over.

Here we go then. the Côte de Wanne is 3.6% cat 5% average gradient. Remember it's not this climb is isolation, but the constant climbing from now until the end of the race.

90km to go

And even on the early slopes Gerristse's advantage is cut, she leads by only 1.45, with one kilometre of the climb remaining.

With Gerritse still leading the main peloton by 1.20, two riders have set off in pursuit, Julie Bego (Cofidis) and Lauren Dickson (FDJ United-SUEZ) are 55 sends behind the lead.

We're over the top now, heading towards the town of Stavelot and the brutal Côte de Stockeau. Gerritse leads the two chasers by 45 seconds, with the bunch close behind them.

The Stockeau is like a diversion off the main route north. In Stavelot, the riders will swing right onto the climb, on which there is a stature of the legend Eddy Merckx.

Gerritse is working very hard now, Bego and Dickson have dropped to 50 seconds and into the clutches of the peloton.
Into Stavelot now.

Onto the Côte de Stockeau, just 1km but at an average of a brutal 12.5%. Whatever happens, those who climb well and have hopes of winning, will try to numb the legs of their rivals.
Gerriste has only 25 seconds!

A great performance by Gerritse sees her crest the Stockeau still leading. She'll drop back into Stavelot now then head straight onto the Côte de la Haute-Levée.

The Côte de la Haute-Levée is longer, but still tough, 2.2km and an average of 7.5% gradient. Gerritse's advantage its down to just five seconds.

Gerritse is caught on the ascent of the Côte de la Haute-Levée. A group of nine dropped riders are out of it now, more than three minutes back.

80km to go

No sooner is Gerritse caught than her SD Worx team mate, Lotte Kopecky is gapped by the bunch. Again, like Van der Breggen earlier it could be that's she's heading back to the team car.

We're over the top of the Haute-Levée and Kopecky is still just off the back of the peloton, it doesn't look a capitulation.

And no sooner do we say that than Kopecky is back in the bunch. A great sprinter, she can climb brilliantly and no one will want her to be in the lead group when they reach the Quai des Ardennes and the finish line.

Kopecky was fifth at last year's race, so it could happen.
And if it were to, she would have won all four women's Monuments, along with Tour of Flanders, Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix.

UAE Team ADQ are taking responsibility to keep the pace high as the peloton head towards the fifth of 10 climbs.

The race has settled a little after the last triptych of climbs. Next up is the Col du Rosier, long but not so steep, but another climb to drain the riders' resources.

70km to go

We're on the Col du Rosier now, this one is 4.4km at 5.9% gradient. Not as hard, but it drags on. It's the variety of climbs which adds to the difficulty, there is never a rhythm.

One rhythm that is forming is the sight of an DS Worx rider off the back on the climbs, this time it's Mischa Bredewold who's at 15 seconds. She's with a few other quality riders, Évita Muzic and Eva van Agt (FDJ United-SUEZ), Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Erica Magnaldi (UAE Team ADQ) so this could well be them dropped.

Another of the favourites for the win today is Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech), who was second at La Flèche Wallonne last week.
She and Demi Vollering are rivals on the bike, but friendly off it.

Bredewold, Muzic, Van Agt, Lippert and Magnaldi are now 45 seconds behind the peloton, so it seems they're well and truly out of it now.
The next climb is the Col du Maquisard, the top of which is 10km away.

60km to go

I spoke too soon! Bredewold, Van Agt, Muzic, Lippert and Magnaldi are back in the group. The descent will have helped them, but we'll soon be at the Maquisard

The Col du Maquisard is new to the race and, at only 2.4km at an average of 5.7km, with the Côte de Desnié and Côte de la Redoute coming soon afterwards this could be a period of calm.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) is keen to take the win in Liège and her teams have been keeping the pace high.
All together over the climb, and though Bredewold is back in, she was briefly off the back again on the climb.

50km to go

Up hill again! Heading onto the Côte de Desnié now. This is a beast, averaging 8.1% over its 1.6km.

The pace is up on the Desnié, Bredewold and Dickson are among the riders off the back. this is the meat of the race now, he course is so selective it lends itself to attacks on the climbs and eventually being won either solo or from a small group.

Ferrand-Prévot on the front now. Remember, the Visma-Lease a Bike rider won the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift last year, she can climb!

Over the top of the climb and we have seven riders with a small gap.

Maëva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ), Isabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek), Juliette Berthet and Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-SUEZ), Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike), Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypto) and Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oalty) have 43 seconds.

SD Worx-Protime are on the back foot here, they're not represented in that group, so the Dutch squad must take responsibility. They're leading the chase now, but is it too late already?

With SD Worx getting some help from Fenix-Premier Tech, the gap to Squiban, Holmgren, Berthet, Chabbey, De Vries, Niedermaier and Rüegg is coming down.

40km to go

Next up is the Côte de la Redoute which always brings attacks and today is unlucky to be any different.

Now the town of Remouchamps, they'll cross the river then cut back, parallel with the highway and up the race's most iconic climb.

Before we hit the climb the breakaway is caught and EF Education-Oatly lead onto the climb.

Now it's FDJ, other teams must preempt this move, Vollering is certain to have a go here, but the French squad have a complete lead out onto the climb.

Muzic leads her team leader onto the climb as the group thins out through the camper vans parked either side of the road.

A full lead out now from Berthet, Vollering second wheel.

It's Chabbey's turn now. Expect lift off very soon. There are plenty of riders close on the wheel getting ready though.

Volllering! Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sraam-zondacrypto) on the wheel.

And before the top Vollering has a gap, Pieterse forced to lead the chase. Lidl-Trek have two riders in the chase too.

La Redoute has done what it does best: allows the strongest and bravest to make their move.
Over the top Vollering has a slender lead on Niewiadoma-Phinney and Pieterse. The Lidl-Trek pair of Niamh Fisher-Black and Isabella Holmgren are trying to catch them.

Holmgren and Fisher-Black are now with Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney, but they're 15 seconds down.
The chasers will need to work together to get her back, if anyone misses a turn because there are two Lidl-Trek riders there, Vollering will ride away.

Vollering's lead is edging outwards. Holmgren, Fisher-Black, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney are now 25 seconds down.

30km to go

Fisher-Black is dropped. At least that makes the group politics easier in the chasing trio.

Fisher-Black is caught by a group almost a minute down.
Holmgren, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney are working well but they trail by 26 seconds. Race over?

Vollering is in the zone now, proving her absolute class and extending her advantage on the three-woman chasing group to 30 seconds.

Côte des Forges is coming up soon, 1.3km at 7.8% all three of the chasers are classy climbers, but so is Vollering who can extend her lead her.

Is Vollering preserving her energy, or is she tiring? The chasers have taken five seconds off her lead.

We're over the Côte des Forges and Vollering's lead over Holmgren, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney has settled at 26 seconds. The third group on the road are probably out of it now, they're 1.18 down.

Though she failed to win the Tour de France avec Zwift last year, Vollering may well be the best rider in the women's peloton. Her lead has edged out to 40 seconds now.

20km to go

The third group is getting together to organise a cohesive chase, but it's almost certainly too late, they're 1.25 behind Vollering. Though to be fair, Vollering keeps stretching her back, hopefully she's OK.

The final climb, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons is looming. 1.3km at 11% it's really tough after this distance, but it's the key to glory in this race. Vollering may want to consolidate her lead here.

Onto the climb and Vollering leads Holmgren, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney by one minute.
The chasers could be caught by the third group.

Niewiadoma-Phinney leads the chase on the climb, but Vollering's not coming back now.

Vollering reaches the top of the Roche-aux-Faucons with a lead of 1.08 on Holmgren, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney, but group three are closing in on them.
This may add firepower to the pursuit, but does anyone have the legs?

Vollering is a machine, out of the saddle, sprinting with 145km in her legs.
Van der Breggen has shattered the third group, taking Chabbey and Amstel Gold winner, Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) with her.

Vollering is still flying, leading Holmgren, Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney by 1.13. Van der Breggen is now alone, closing in on the chasing trio.

10km

Van der Breggen makes contact, while Pieterse goes hard. that doesn't stop Van der Breggen attacking, Holmgren is dropped.
Now Pieterse, Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma-Phinney chase, 1.07 beind the lead.

The climbing is done now and it's mostly downhill to the line in Liège, there's no catching Vollering, surely?
The lead is 1.04.

Van der Breggen must surely try to drop the other two, Pieterse as a cyclo-cross rider has explosive power and Niewiadoma-Phinney beat Vollering in a sprint at Amstel Gold race, the SD Worx is unlikely to be able to match that punch.

Vollering is still super-committed to the final few kilometres, even with her gap at 1.02.

5km to go

Holmgren has been caught by Blasi now and they're trying to catch Pieterse, Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma-Phinney, who they trail by 30 seconds. Vollering is all but home and hosed at the front.

The wind is up a little now, but it won't affect the finish, headwind for a kilometre, it's cross wind in the final straight.

Vollering leads Pieterse, Van der Breggen and Niewiadoma-Phinney by 1.22, with Blasi and Holmgren 25 seconds further back.

Final Kilometre

Vollering into the final straight where she will celebrate her third victory at Lie1ge-Vastogne-Liège, the first woman to do so.

Vollering wins.

Into the final straight Van der Breggen leads, hugging the barrier.
Niewiadoma-Phinney in second with Pieterse last in line.

Pieterse goes, comes over the top to finish second, Niewiadoma-Phinney is third, while Van der Breggen takes fourth place.

Results powered by FirstCycling.

Demi Vollering was pure class today.
In 2019 she made her breakthrough in the Ardennes races, taking fifth at La Flèche Wallonne and third in Liège, so it is no surprise that she does so well, but her domination is almost absolute.

"I really wanted to win again here," she said afterwards. "I really love this race it brings back for me so many good memories, being still a club rider riding here without there even being a women's race yet, I was already dreaming about it without knowing if there would ever be a women's race. Then finally we got one, I became a pro and I win for the third time here.

"We made a plan to go from the Redoute, actually we wanted to have a team mate in the front before but that didn't really work out. Still, I went, it was a long, long way from there but I managed to find the finish here and finish it off."

Pieterse's spring campaign hasn't been quite as successful as her 2025 season. Then, the Fenix-Premier Tech rider was an ever-present in the Spring Classics top 10, winning La Flèche Wallone this year, though she'll be disappointed by successive second places in Liège, she has established herself as one of the world's top Classics riders

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypto) is not the most regular of winners, but she is one of the peloton's most consistent riders.
She's raced three times since a terrible crash meant she was unable to finish Milan-Sanremo, finishing second, fourth and third, and many fans will be hoping she can soon convert one of those near misses to a win.

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That's the end of our live coverage from the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, keep your eye out for further coverage over the following hours and days.

It's also the end of our live coverage of the Spring Classics. Thanks for following along. It's been a brilliant few weeks, with almost every race producing thoroughly riveting entertainment.

There's more to come though, so stay with us for more coverage as the women's peloton pivots from one-dayers to stage races.