The Dutchwoman was involved in a late-race select group of riders that crossed over the penultimate climb together, but then broke away from that group at the bottom of the Mur de Huy with American Evelyn Stevens (Boels-Dolmans), also a former winner of the race. Van der Breggen powered up the steep slopes to the finish line with the win forcing Stevens to settle for second place.
Megan Guarnier made it two Boels Dolmans Americans on the podium by taking third over Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Rabo-Liv.
La Flèche Wallonne Féminine marked the sixth round of the Women's WorldTour held on April 20 in Belgium. World champion Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) was leading the rankings after the first five rounds.
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Armitstead won rounds at Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Cittiglio and the Tour of Flanders and currently held 368 points. She was leading her teammate Chantal Blaak with 343, who won the round at Gent-Wevelgem and briefly held the ranking lead until Armtitstead reclaimed it at Flanders. Emma Johansson (Wiggle High5) was sitting in third place with 285 points.
This year's La Flèche Wallonne Feminine hosted a 137km race on two circuits in Belgium. Both circuits travelled over sharp climbs; Cote d'Ereffe, Cote de Bellaire, Cote de Bohissau, Cote de Soliere and the Mur de Huy. However, on the last circuit, the peloton also climbed over the Cote de Cherave before the final trip up the Mur de Huy.
At the 2015 La Flèche Wallonne Féminine, Anna van der Breggen (Rabo Liv) beat Annemiek van Vleuten (Bigla) from an unexpected two-rider breakaway, while Megan Guarnier (Boels-Dolmans) was the best of the rest on the Mur de Huy.
She defended that title in the 2016 La Flèche Wallonne Feminine.
2016 La Flèche Wallonne Feminine - Top 10
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Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team
3:50:36
2
Evelyn Stevens (USA) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam
0:00:08
3
Megan Guarnier (USA) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam
0:00:22
4
Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team
