Van der Breggen wins third consecutive la Fleche Wallonne
Anna van der Breggen (Boels Dolmans) staked her claim as Queen of la Fleche Wallonne Feminine by winning her third consecutive edition in 2017. The 27-year-old Dutchwoman forged clear on the lower slopes of the finishing Mur de Huy climb and won by 16 seconds over teammate Lizzie Deignan and 25 seconds over Katarzyna Niewiadoma (WM3 Pro Cycling).
Van der Breggen bridged to Deignan and Niewiadoma, who had jumped away from the peloton on Cote de Cherave, and then somped her way clear before the final climb of the Mur de Huy started.
Anna Van Der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam
3:21:06
2
Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam
0:00:16
3
Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) WM3 Pro Cycling
0:00:25
4
Annemiek Van Vleuten (Ned) Orica Scott Women
0:00:43
5
Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope
0:00:49
6
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) Cervelo Bigla Pro Cycling Team
0:00:54
7
Coryn Rivera (USA) Team Sunweb Women
0:00:56
8
Janneke Ensing (Ned) Alé Cipollini
0:00:58
9
Katrin Garfoot (Aus) Orica Scott Women
0:01:00
10
Flavia Oliveira (Bra) Lares-Waowdeals
0:01:02
Anna van der Breggen sealed her second straight win at La Flèche Wallonne last year after dropping Evelyn Stevens with a stinging attack on the Mur de Huy. The Dutchwoman goes into the 20th edition of the race as the overwhelming favourite after a solo win at the renewed Amstel Gold Race.
Van der Breggen will be in the colours of Boels Dolmans this season, her big rivals over the past two seasons, and will be working with Lizzie Deignan and Megan Guarnier to complete the hat-trick. It is hard to see anyone getting in her way but there will be some strong competition for Van der Breggen. Kasia Niewiadoma missed the podium last season but she is on great form at the moment for WM3 Pro Cycling. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Cervelo-Bigla) will be looking for a return to the rostrum after a solid Amstel Gold, as will former winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
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Coryn Rivera goes into the race as the WorldTour leader but her Sunweb team will be looking to Sabrina Stultiens to deliver the goods. One rider that won't be on the start line is Elisa Longo Borghini, who fell ill earlier in the week. Wiggle-High5 will instead pool their resources behind Claudia Lichtenberg.
2016 Results
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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
