As it happened: The race is made with the Oude Kwaremont producing the winner of the Tour of Flanders Women

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this year’s Tour of Flanders Women Elite. Always one of the most exiting, fascinating, entertaining and keenly anticipated races of the season!

We’re in what has become the race’s spiritual home of Oudenaarde for the start this year. We roll out for 2.9km of neutral at 13:25 (local time) before the winner crosses the line back in Oudenaarde after 164.1km of what’s sure to be frantic racing.

Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) is only one of more than 130 women on the start line today and though she’s in flying form with wins at Nokere Koerse and Milan-Sanremo, there are plenty of others hoping for success.
Our preview is here.

Our most recent winner in these spring Classics was Movistar's Marlen Reusser, the Swiss rider winning an enthralling edition of Dwars Door Vlaanderen.
How did she do it? Our report is here.

Though Milan Sanremo was the first of the men’s Monuments to host a women’s race, way back in 1999, that only ran until 2005, by which time De Ronde women’s race was in its second edition.
While Sanremo disappeared for 20 years, Flanders has run continually since its inception, making it the longest running of all women’s Monuments.

This is the 23rd edition.

The Tour of Flanders is one of the most coveted races each season and some of the biggest names of the sport have won over the years. Nicole Cooke, Ina Yoko Teutenberg, Marianne Vos, Coryn Labecki, Lizzie Deignan and Ellen van Dijk all grace the race palmarès.

Double winners include Mirjam Melchers, Judith Arndt, Annemiek van Vleuten and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), but only one woman has won three editions: Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).

Tour of Flanders Women: Lotte Kopecky makes history with record third victory.

Kopecky might be the the record winner, but when she took her first title back in 2022 she was only the second Belgian to win the country’s most iconic race, with Grace Verbeke taking the honours way back in 2010.

Here we go! We’re rolling for 2.9km of neutral, riding out through Bevere before we finally get racing!

While the first edition of the race in 2004, won by Zulfiya Zabirova, covered only 94km, this year we’ve got 164.1km, with plenty of cobbles and bergs on the menu.

One woman who could have a major influence on today's race is Franziska Koch, the German champion who moved to FDJ United-SUEZ this year to support Demi Vollering.

Is Franziska Koch the best signing of the year?

The race is on!

164.1km to go!

As for the weather, it's reasonably warm, with highs of 12ºC some light rain and high winds up to almost 30k/mh. That'll be a tailwind on the final few kilometres, ideal for a breakaway.

The fight is already on for the breakaway!

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) has proved herself over and again as not only the best sprinter but one of the world’s best riders.

Even if she doesn’t win today she can still have an influence on the race, she thinks so, saying "I can give others some pressure."

Despite plenty of attacking at the front of the race, the peloton is still together.

154km left to race

The first of six cobbled sectors is the Lange Munte which comes after 29.3km. There are nine climbs too, the Wolvenberg, which opens the climbing after 82km, is one of only two bergs which is on tarmac, making the remaining seven very challenging indeed.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is one of the superstars of cycle sport, with world titles across the disciplines.

She was second at the Tour of Flanders last year and she knows she and her Visma-Lease a Bike team can win today.

We've had a few moves off the front but only now has anything stuck, we have four women with a small gap.

20km raced!

Our leading group is comprised of:
Anastasiya Kolesava (Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto)
Teuntje Beekhuis (UNO-X Mobility)
Alison Mrugal (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie)
Sophie von Berswordt (VolkerWessels)

only have the slimmest of gaps and the cobbles begin soon, can they build their lead or will they be caught in the fight for position?

There's a confused picture from the race at the moment, though we're sure four women lead with a small gap.

30km raced

We have two groups off the front.
Iurani Blanco (Human Powered Health)
Ilken Seynave (Lotto-Intermarché)
Caroline Wrezin (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93)
Yonna van Dam (Citymech-Customm)
lead the buch by 10 seconds while
Anastasiya Kolesava (Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto)
Teuntje Beekhuis (UNO-X Mobility)
Alison Mrugal (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie)
Sophie von Berswordt (VolkerWessels)

are in-between the two. This is nowhere near a done deal!

Off the first cobbles

With the Lange Munte behind us Blanco, Seynave, Wrezin and Van Dam (Citymech-Customm) lead the second group of
Kolesava, Beekhuis, Mrugal and Von Berswordt by 35 seconds with the peloton a further minute behind.

The next obstacle for the race is the one-two cobbled sectors of Lipphovenstraat and Paddestraat. The first of those comes after 59.7km, so we have a way to go just yet.

Our two breakaway groups remain 35 seconds apart, while the peloton are now 2.20 behind the front of the race.
We have two breakaways!

125km to go

A weather update for you, the wind remains at almost 30km/h from the west. this is plenty strong enough to affect the race, but the route is such that you never go in one direction long enough for echelons to really break the race.

We're getting reports of a crash for Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime). She's back up and in the bunch, but almost every crash hurts so this could affect the team's strategy, though of course, they still have Lotte Kopecky.

This race and the sport at this time of year are known for cobbles and the Lange Munte was today's first stretch for the peloton.

American and Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner is racing in Europe for the first time this season.
She's hopes her EF Education-Oatly team can get a result today by being "a little sneaky."

As it stands Blanco, Seynave, Wrezin and Van Dam continue to lead
Kolesava, Beekhuis, Mrugal and Von Berswordt by 35 seconds.
Meanwhile the peloton has really let the gap grow out and they now trail the leaders by 4.35!

110km left to race

The cobbled Lipphovenstraat is coming in the next few kilometres, by the end of that and the Paddestraat there's little down our two groups will still be leading, but we could see their advantage beginning to drop as the fight for position comes in the peloton.

Onto the Lipphovenstraat! It's flat and about 1300m in length.
The peloton are now 4.08 behind the leaders.

Paddestraat now! This one is slightly longer and slightly down hill and clearly not the favourite place for Kolesava, who's struggling to hold on.

After the Lippenhovenstraat and Paddestraat one-two the gap is coming down as predicted, the peloton are now only 3.41 down.
We're told the leading quartet is Kolesava, Beekhuis, Mrugal and Von Berswordt, NOT Blanco, Seynave, Wrezin and Van Dam, who are the secnd group, still just over 30 seconds down.

100km to go!

The day's first climb is not too far away now, so expect the peloton to become increasingly interested and increasingly quick.
It's the Wolvenberg, which starats with 82km to go. It's not a cobbled climb, but it has a maximum gradient of 17%!
It's only short though, 645m averaging 7.9%.

As a three time winner Lotte Kopecky started today as one of the favourites.
Bad luck meant she had a slightly rocky start to the season, but she’s had two big wins so far.
First she won at at Nokere Koerse then

days later she won a gripping Milan-Sanremo.

Enjoying our live race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.

All change at the front now.
Wrezin, Van Dam, Kolesava, Beekhuis, Mrugal and Von Berswordt now lead the peloton by well over five minutes, while Blanco, Seynave have been dropped by the break.

90km to go

As we mentioned earlier, thawing is blowing very hard out there and now it's in the face of the riders the pace has really dropped, which is why the gap has grown so much.
Over six minutes now, such a gap is not a common thing.

The breakaway are now heading through the start and finish town of Oudenaarde before the first climb, the Wolvenberg, just outside town.
We're now getting into the meat of the race and the peloton will need to take some time out of the leaders.

One of the many complications of racing in Belgium is the road furniture and it's caused a huge crash in the peloton, a number of riders coming down after someone hit a partition bollard.
Former French champion, Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) is one of those affected.

The leading group are over the Wolvenberg now, while the bunch have just ridden out of Oudenaarde with the gap coming down again.

Wrezin, Van Dam, Kolesava, Beekhuis, Mrugal and Von Berswordt lead by 4.30.

80km to race

The leaders are on cobbled sector number four, Kerkgate is 1400m in length but is very slightly uphill, quite unpleasant!
In the bunch Visma-Lease a Bike, UAE Team ADQ and SD Worx are doing the work. Movistar have been up there, but one of their key strongwomen, Aude Biannic just suffered a small crash.

Yonna van Dam was in the breakaway at In Flanders Fields last week, but has just been dropped from the leading group. Mrugal is slipping back too, so now only Wrezin, Kolesava, Beekhuis and Von Berswordt are at the front, 4 minutes ahead of the bunch.

More cobbles! It's relentless! It's Jagerij now. This one's flat and only 600m, but the tough gets going very soon, with the Molenberg only just up the road.

The breakaway worked well throughout the day, but the pace is up and they're slipping back one by one.

The pace is frighteningly fast in the peloton now, it will be important to be at or near the front when they hit the Molenberg. It's a cliche, but there are so many points on the Flanders course where the race can be lost.
The lead for Wrezin, Kolesava, Beekhuis and Von Berswordt is now only 2.50.

70km to go

The MOlenberg is 463m at and average gradient of 7%. It's cobbled and brutal. Kolesava is making light work of it though, gliding over the stones.

The break is over the Molenberg, but the bunch is frantic, fighting for the tight turn into the bottom. After winning Dwars Door Vlaanderen in midweek, Marlen Reusser led onto the cobbles and is flying!

Reusser's move threatened to split the race and a small group did form, though the race has re-formed as they stream over the open fields at the top.
The gap is only 2.10 though!

Not only do you need to be strong in Flanders, but you also need to be switched on at all times. Position and course knowledge are so important.
Next up is the tarmacced Marlboroughstraat.

With the gap under two minutes and the wind howling across the open fields, some riders are looking to attack, but nothing is sticking

The race has eased slightly. Some attacks are coming from what is a large bunch, but they're being closed down as the breakaway's lead has settled around the two minute mark.

60km remaining

Marlen Reusser's attack on the Molenberg put the cat among the pigeons and will have hurt plenty of her rivals, even if the race came back together.

The climbs and cobbles come thick and fast now. Next up is the Eikenberg which comes at 52.5km to go. It signals the beginning of the end, with the Koppenberg coming soon after and a series of tough challenges where the race will be made.

Onto the Eikenberg.
It's yet another cobbled climb, 1200m long and 5.2% average gradient, though it ramps up to 10%.
Wrezin, Kolesava, Beekhuis and Von Berswordt lead by 1.32.

A nasty looking crash for Brodie Chapman (UAE Team ADQ), she's one of er team's strongest engines and is unlikely to rejoin the race.

The Eikenberg has made its mark. Not only is the breakaway's advantage down, the peloton is scrambling to stay together, a number of riders dropped under the pressure of FDJ United-SUEZ and their Swiss rider, Elise Chabbey.
Her leader Demi Vollering moves to the front. We're racing for position on the Koppenberg now.

The climb made its mark on the breakaway too, with Kolesava alone at the front. It's a hugely brave ride from the Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto rider who was struggling earlier in the race.

Kolesava leads the peloton by only 42 seconds heading on the flat road to the base of the Koppenberg.

50km to go

Don't expect Kolesava to survive the Koppenberg, it's brutal and invites attacks.
The cobbles alone are some of the toughest of the day and while it's only 600m, it averages 11.6%, though it's steepest ramp is 22%. It's very narrow too.
Let's hope it's dry now as riders will be walking. If you stop you'll really struggle to remount.

There's a real fight to be close to the front four this climb, with it so hard and set to cause riders so many problems, it's vital for the favourites to be at the front.
Kolesava leads by 35 seconds.
There's been a sickening crash in the lead in, with Reusser affected, among others.

On the climb and Franziska Koch (FDJ Untied SUEZ) is doing her thing and leading for Vollering. You can lose so much time here you'll never see the front of the race.

Vollering and Koch lead over the top, but she has a large group with her. They include Elisa Longo Borghini andZoe Backstedt (UAE) Letizia Paternoster (Liv-Alula-JAyco), Kopecky, Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike) and others.
They being chased but will the pursuers get back on before the Taaienberg?

FDJ are in control on the cobbles of the Maria Borrestraat, but the leading group comprises around 20 women, with plenty of teams represented.

40km

Taaienberg is the next climb. Another cobbled berg it's a tough climb, though a tailwind will make it slightly easier. Expect more attacks here, FDJ have number is this group and will look to thin it down.

Chabbey leads her FDJ team onto the cobbles, while riders are dropping. Pfeiffer Georgi (Pinic-PostNL) and Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx) are the first two to go, while Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) is also distanced.
As defending champion, Kopecky is now isloated in the leading group.

I spoke too soon, Bredewold is back to help Kopecky, but FDJ are keeping the pace incredibly high.

There'll be no rest but there is time for riders to catch their breath before the next climb.
The Oude Kruisberg/Hotond comes with 27km to go and is an odd one. The Kruisberg is cobbled and narrow, while the Hotond is just a tarmacced and wide continuation, dragging on and on.
In total it's 2.7km avarage of 4.1%, but harder than it sounds.

30km to go

FDJ United-SUEZ have bossed the race wince before the Koppenberg. Célia Gery win particular has driven the race hard. She's still on the front after this effort on the Taaienberg.

We're in Ronse now, the Oude Kruisberg/Hotond climbs out of the town, the road starting on typical Belgian concrete surface before turning to cobbles. Chabbey is on the front with a huge effort again.

Close the end of the cobbles Koch takes over, leading a small group away.
Vollering, Kopecky, Ferrand-Prévot, Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premer Tech) lead the race.

There's little in the way of cooperation in the leading group. Only Vollering and Ferrand-Prévot have taken a turn.
As the chasers get on Vollering attacks, taking Pieterse with her, though Kopecky drags it back and the same five women lead, racing past the old windmill at the top of the Hotond.

UAE Team ADQ have missed this group and are working hard to chase it down, Longo Borghini, Karlijn Swinkels and Silvia Persico have dragged it back on the Ronde van Vlaanderen Straat.
Othr are with them so this changes the complexion of the race - Again!

We're descending the Nieuwe Kwaremont on tarmac down the Berchem now. Hereto race will turn right and head towards the cobbled Oude Kwaremont, our penultimate climb.
Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx) attacked, but has been caught.

In Berchem riders take a gel and a drink. Oude Kwaremont is hard, 1500m average 4% but with some brutal ramps.
Lieke Nooijen is leading for her Visma-Lease a Bike team mate, Ferrand-Prévot.

20km - Towards the Kawremont

As the road begins to slope gently upwards ahead of the steep cobbled sections, Koch comes back to lead out Vollering. Pieterse is watching her like a hawk!

On the cobbles Vollering goes very hard, only Ferrand-Prévot is anywhere near, this is the decisive move, surely?

Attack!

Now Vollering is alone at the front, the chasers are alone with their efforts, Ferrand-Prévot, Pieterse then Kopecky. We're through Kwaremont village and almost off the cobbles.
It doesn't seem as though Kopecky will defend her title.

On the tarmac st the top of the Oude Kwaremont Vollering leads Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot by 20 seconds. 10 seconds further back Longo Borghini leads the chase with Swinkels, Persico Kopecky and Zoe Backstedt (Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto) is also there, the Brit coming into her own.

The final climb, it's cobbled, short but hideously steep. Vollering leads by 24 seconds as she hits the cobbles.

Paterberg

Team work and repeated attacks seem to have made the day for Vollering.
Off the Paterberg she leads Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot by 27 seconds, while a lerger chasing group is a few seconds back.

Vollering is back into Berchem leading Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot by 37 seconds.
Vollering will cross the Schelde river here, then right right, east, and ride with a tailwind back to Oudenaarde.

10km to go

While Vollering seems comfortable at the front, her pedal stroke strong and smooth, Ferrand-Prévot and Pieterse look to be struggling and the chasing group is clawing them back. Once in the tailwind section they may be able to stay away though.

The wind is a cross tailwind, still approaching 30km/h, which minimises the effect of drafting in a group, this will help Vollering, but also Pieterse and Ferrand-Prévot, who have 15 seconds on the chasing group. Longo Borghini is STILL leading that group.

Vollering's lead is now out to 50 seconds, everyone is riding strongly, but Vollering is strongest. Surely all she needs to do is stay on her bike to take the win?

5km to go

Nothing is really changing behind Vollering and she'll take 50 seconds into the the final 2km, while Longo Borghini's chase group is 19 seconds further back.

Vollering wins! The victory made on the Oude Kwaremont

Vollering wins!

Vollering wins, with Ferrand-Prévot in second place and Pieterse in third.
The secind coonsecutive year the French woman has been runner up.

"Crazy, I lost my words a bit," said an emotional Vollering. "It was super hard, I just felt I need to go as fast as possible and then the suffering is finally over because it was painful.
"I really tried to find some calmness in the suffering, you know I really tried to stay super focused and then in the end I'm doing it. But I also had to because the team did an amazing job again."

FDJ United-SUEZ were imperious in their support of Vollering, answering her prayers and helping her to a first win at Flanders.
If any plan ever survived contact with the cobbles it was theirs, with riders seeming to have clearly set roles. Koch and Chabbey would lead onto the climbs and Gery would take responsibility in between. Vollering was unafraid to take responsibility when need be, her win was one born of excellent planning and perfect execution.

UAE Team ADQ also put a great shift in, despite their reward being nothing more than Karlijn Swinkels' sixth place.
Longo Borghini worked especially hard, but was unable to bring the group back. To be fair, they lost Brodie Chapman to a crash before the action really got going, then Megan Jastrab immediately before Koppenberg, but after last week's In Flanders Fields, this is becoming a habit they will be desperate to shake.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will be upset with another second place, even if her Visma-Lease a Bike team rode well. Another team affected by crashes, they had their two protected riders in the right place at the right time, they just weren't able to live with Vollering.
Finishing 11th, Lieke Nooijen is the real deal and is sure to be closer to the podium in future editions of the race.

Defending champion Lotte Kopecky was going for a record no rider, male or female has achieved - a fourth win at Flanders - and that evaded her.
"It think we managed well until Oude Kwaremont," she said afterwards. "Then the I had no answer to these attacks and then [I was] hoping I could come back for a place too, but unfortunately we come any closer to Puck and Pauline so it was a sprint for place four."
Her SD Worx-Protime squad were always in the right place, but never seemed to grab the race by the scruff of the neck. They too lost a rider to the horrific crash before the Koppenberg and reportedly lost Wiebes after the climb, so they may be satisfied, if not pleased, with fourth place. But this, combined with their no-show at Dwars Door Vlaanderen, where Kopecky was best placed in 12th, will surely be a concern.

Thanks for joining us for today's live coverage of the Tour of Flanders Women. Apart from the crashes, it was another fabulous race, with FDJ and Vollering producing an almost flawless performance.
Backed by the ambitious French team, Vollering has proved herself as the women to be beat in a multitude of scenarios and we can expect more from her as the spring continues.
See you next week.

Enjoying our live race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.