Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames: Karlijn Swinkels launches a long-range sprint to take victory on the Citadelle de Namur

Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team L'IMAD) scored a second career victory at the GP de Wallonie Dames, timing her final sprint to perfection at the top of the Citadelle de Namur.

The Dutchwoman's third win of the season – her first since the Trofeo Binda in March – came at the expense of Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) after the Italian worked to close a gap to Swinkels' teammate Eleonora Gasparrini inside the final 400 metres.

Having followed Balsamo and Célia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) across the gap, Swinkels then launched around the outside of the final bend, outpacing Balsamo and Gery to the finish line to take a commanding win.

"Of course, I'm very happy, and I think as a team we were racing really well. Of course, I was a little bit nervous in the final because everyone committed to go again for me today in this final. I'm really happy I could finish the work from the girls off," Swinkels said after the race.

"Actually, I was hoping the final would be a little bit faster. Now, of course, we were going to the finish line with a lot of sprinters. I'm fast, but I didn't expect that I could be faster than Elisa. For this, Gaspa opened the sprint really early, so they had to react. That was when I could come from the back with a bit more speed because last year I made the mistake to come too early and this year I could time it really good.

"It's super special and I really, really wanted to win this race today. Last week was a bit of a difficult week. I'm really happy, and this victory is mostly for my family, my second family in Italy, but also my teammates, who really sacrificed everything for me today."

Earlier in the day, a breakaway of six riders went clear. Marieke Meert (Lotto-Intermarché), Alison Avoine (Ma Petite Enterprise), Camilla Rånes Bye, Viivi Turpeinen (Minimax WB), Rose Kloese (Carbonbike Giordana Sofré by Gen Z), and Zoë van Velzen (WV Schijndel) jumped away after 20km.

They raced away to an advantage of 4:30 at one point as Lidl-Trek and UAE Team L'IMAD took control back in the peloton, though that gap fell to 2:30 as the riders raced into the final 25km.

Movistar also joined in the pacemaking as the peloton slowly reeled in the leading sextet, but the pace wasn't quick enough for some as attacks flew on the Tienne aux Pierres (3.1km at 4.9%) hill 14km from the finish.

With the break in their sights on the way up, a host of riders jumped clear from the peloton. Lauren Dickson (FDJ United-SUEZ) led the new move, taking Gasparrini, defending champion Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal), and Ingvild Gåskjenn (Uno-X Mobility) with her.

The move wouldn't stick to the finish, however, as Lidl-Trek dragged them back into the much-reduced peloton with just over 6km left to ride. The race was then on towards Namur and the famous cobbled ascent to the Citadelle de Namur (3.2km at 4.1%), which would decide the winner.

FDJ led the race onto the climb, setting it up for their leader, 20-year-old French champion Gery. Amber Kraak led the way up the winding road to the Citadelle before pulling off for Dickson to push the pace towards the top.

The British racer held control over the reduced group of no more than 15 as the cobbles turned to tarmac in the final kilometre. Behind, Gasparrini was the first to launch in the final, going with 400 metres to go.

With Balsamo and Gery quick to jump on the Italian's wheel, her attack wasn't the winning move of the day, but it set up her teammate Swinkels, who was sitting in the wheels behind, ready to strike.

Balsamo and Gery had used vital energy in following the move, with Balsamo then hitting the front too early. That left Swinkels in prime position in third wheel, and she was quick to strike, having enough left in the legs to pass Gery and Balsamo around the outside.

Results

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