As it happened: Grace Brown outsprints Elisa Longo Borghini, Demi Vollering at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes

Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes.

It's the finale of the Spring Classics and the last of the Ardennes races for this year.

Demi Vollering of SD Worx-Protime won the race last year to complete her famous Ardennes triple. Can she repeat this time and put a shine on what has been a winless spring so far?

With Amstel Gold and Fléche Wallonne already behind us, it's been an exciting week of racing already.

Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) snatched victory from under the nose of Lorena Wiebes last Sunday.

Then, midweek, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) took her first victory on the road since 2019 at the Fléche Wallone.

Both in-form riders have to be considered contenders this afternoon.

The riders will set of in about half an hour and they will do so in bitterly cold conditions, similar to Fléche Wallonne on Wednesday.

Temperatures have been between 2 and 5 degrees most of the day around the route. Unlike on Wednesday, it looks like the rain will stay away this afternoon.

Here's Ashleigh Moolman Pasio's AG Insurance -Soudal squad before the start, all wrapped up against the elements. 

Added to the temperature at 2 degrees celcius in Bastogne at the moment is a northerly wind to add to the chill. That also means a headwind for much of the race today.

With less than half an hour to go, it's started to snow at the start in Bastogne.

So who are the contenders for the race today?

Defending champion Demi Vollering comes into the race without a win so far this season and looks a way off her Ardennes dominating form from last season. She can't be written-off, however, and still comes into the race as a top favourite.

What about Kasia Niewiadoma? Her big win on Wednesday is sure to fill her with confidence.

Lidl-Trek's Elisa Longo Borghini has also been in great form in the past few weeks. She has a strong team around her too.

Here are CyclingNews' top contenders for today's races.

Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 - Analysing the contenders

Liége - Bastogne - Liége is one of three monument races that the women's peloton shares with the men's - the others being the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix.

Lizzie Deignan is the only rider to have won all three. Two riders could join her today.

The Monuments - Longo Borghini, Kopecky in contention to claim all three at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

We're roughly ten minutes from the neutral start.

This is the longest ever edition of Liége - Bastogne - Liége Femmes. The organisers have added 10 kilometres onto the route from last year to make it 152.9km in total. That makes this race one of the longest of the year.

There are nine classified climbs on the route today.

The most decisive are the Côte de la Redoute (1.5km at 9.3%) and the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.2km at 10.7%), both coming in the final 35 kilometres.

One rider who impressed on Wednesday at Fléche Wallonne was Pauline Rooijakkers. She made a key attack in the finale and still managed to finish sixth at the line. After that, she has set her eyes on a podium result today.

Rooijakkers surprised with 6th place in Flèche Wallonne after attacking race

Neutral Start

The riders are off for the neutral start. The racing should get going properly in around ten minutes.

Demi Vollering has vowed to fight back after losing her Fléche Wallonne crown mid-week. 'Liège is a very different race' she said as she looked to put her focus on what lies ahead.

Demi Vollering turns to Liège-Bastogne-Liège defence after Flèche defeat

One rider from the original start-list will not take part this afternoon, that's Barbara Malcotti of Human Powered Health.

We're moments away from the official start. 

It's a lumpy, but not terribly hard first third of the race. Eight of the nine classified climbs come within the final 100km.

152.9km to go

The official start has been given.

After 14km, the riders will take on the first of our nine classified climbs on the route - although there are many unclassified bumps too.

The first one is the Côte de Saint-Roch (1km and 10.3%). It could be a good launchpad for anyone who wants to attack.

No attacks yet in the opening kilometres.

The wind looks like it will be a factor today. It's a strong headwind, currently 26 km/h. Usually that means that riders will not attack as a solo rider or a smaller group in a headwind will be at a big disadvantage to the peloton.

Three favourites - Lotte Kopecky, Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma - preparing for the start in Bastogne.

146km to go

The peloton is crawling along so far in this wind. No attacks yet. 

Here's a full list of the climbs on the menu today as the riders approach the first one:

Côte de Saint-Roch (km 15,8 - 1 km at 11,2%)

Côte de Mont-le-Soie (km 59,7 - 1,7 km at 7,9%)

Côte de Wanne (km 67,9 - 3,6 km at 5,1%)

Côte de Stockeu (km 74,5 - 1 km at 12,5%)

Côte de la Haute-Levée (km 78,7 - 2,2 km at 7,5%)

Col du Rosier (km 84,9 - 4,4 km at 5,9%)

Côte de Desnié (km 106,2 - 1,6 km at 8,1%)

Côte de la Redoute (km 119 - 1,6 km at 9,4%)

Côte des Forges (km 129,7 - 1,3 km at 7,8%)

Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (km 139,6 - 1,3 km at 11%)

The first attack of the race. It Špela Kern (Cofidis) and Titia Ryo (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) with a small gap over the peloton.

140km to go

The pair's lead has grown to about 25 seconds as they approach the Côte de Saint-Roch.

Ryo is one of the youngest riders on the start-list today at just 19. This is her first ever WorldTour race. 

The riders have just started the Côte de Saint-Roch (1 km at 11,2%). 

Ryo and Kern's lead has reduced to 10 seconds. 

The attackers have been caught on the climb. 

The peloton are all together now as they descend over the top of the Saint-Roch.

135km to go

The next 30km or so are rolling, without any major climbs.

The race is calm during this flatter section of road. There haven't been any more attacks. 

Juliette Labous of Team dsm-firmenich-Post NL is one of the contenders for today, having looked good midweek. She's aiming high today. 

Here's what she said before the start:

“I’d like to fight for the podium, or even for the win. It’s going to be an open race. Strategy plays a biggest in Liège than it does in Flèche, where the four-minute climb to Huy decides the race. In La Doyenne you need to be very smart and pay attention to every move even if it happens far away from the finish.”

Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal) has attacked and has 10 seconds over the bunch.

That's a dangerous rider to give a lead to.

130km to go

Fléche Wallonne winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM) is currently a few seconds off the back of the bunch after a mechanical issue.

Niewiadoma is back in the bunch. 

It appears that Gigante attacked during the Côte de Saint-Roch, meaning that she has already been solo for about 8km.

2024 Tour Down Under winner Gigante's lead has now grown to 35 seconds.

The peloton seems somewhat pleased to let Gigante be out front. Her lead has grown now to around a minute.

125km to go

This is a fascinating move. Gigante blew away the Tour Down Under peloton, including Danish start Cecile Uttrup Ludwig, in January up the Old Willunga Hill. When on song, she is one of the most gifted climbers in the world.

Now she has 1:15 over the peloton.

Gigante's lead is now heading out to the two-minute mark.

The riders are currently riding into a 22km/h headwind and the temperature is 5 degrees.

Gigante's lead has now grown to 2:20 over the peloton. 

Anne Knijnenburg (Volkerwessels) has attacked to try to bridge the gap.

120km to go

The riders are still in this long rolling section of the course. 

They are 27km away from the day's second climb, the Côte de Mont-le-Soie (1,7 km at 7,9%)

Knijnenburg has built a lead of 30 seconds over the peloton. Still a way to go before she catches the leader, though.

Gigante's lead has reduced a bit. It's now 1:55.

Knijnenburg has been caught by the peloton. 

Gigante's lead is back over two minutes.

Stina Kagevi (Coop-Repsol) is the latest rider to try to bridge across to Gigante. She is 1:35 behind, with the peloton a further 35 seconds adrift. 

This has been an impressive move so far from Sarah Gigante, especially when you consider that her favourite terrain is still to come.

Stina Kagevi is making a dent in Gigante's lead. She is now 55 seconds ahead of the peloton, but still has 1:25 to make up on the leader. 

110km to go

We're 17km away from the next climb. After that, they will come thick and fast for the rest of the day.

The peloton have slowed slightly. Gigante is now 2:40 ahead. Kagevi is 1:20 behind her.

After 30km solo already, Gigante would surely appreciate the Swede's company if she can make it across.

Before the start, Fléche Wallonne winner Kasia Niewiadoma reflected on Liége - Bastogne - Liége Femmes' evolution over the last eight years. 

She said: “We started with a race that was hard, but where everything happened around La Redoute as there were no real challenges before that climb. Over time, one or two extra climbs have been added in every edition of the race." 

"This year’s is definitely the hardest. The first part is relatively easy, but then after 60 kilometres there are plenty of opportunities to attacks as the road is never flat nor straightforward – we will constantly be riding up and down, left and right. In this race, there is something coming up all the time. It’s a survival race.”

We're just about to hit the harder section of the course. 

Just looking at FDJ-Suez rider Marta Cavalli, you can see how cold the conditions are today. 

How much will the temperature effect the result today?

Gigante's lead over the peloton is now 3:10. Kagevi is 1:15 behind the Australian. 

The riders are now on an unclassified incline for the next two kilometres. They will then descend before hitting the Côte de Mont-le-Soie (1,7 km at 7,9%)

100km to go

The gaps are remaining steady on this unclassified climb.

It's a valiant effort this by Stina Kagevi, but it looks like it will ultimately come to nothing. She is still 1:25 behind Gigante.

On unclassified hill Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Cannondale) and Sara Martín (Movistar) have attacked the peloton. They've got 45 seconds over the group and are closing in on Kagevi. 

Martín has had an active week. She was in the breakaway at Fléche Wallonne.

The riders have started the second classified climb of the day: Côte de Mont-le-Soie (1,7 km at 7,9%)

Gigante now on her favoured terrain, but how much has the last hour taken out of her. She still has more than three minutes over the peloton.

95km to go

Here's the situation as the peloton start the climb:

Gigante

Kagevi - 1:40

Martín, Cadzow - 2:20

Peloton - 2:55

Martín and Cadzow have caught Kagevi on the climb. They now have over a minute on the peloton and trail Gigante by 1:50.

The riders are now over the top of the Côte de Mont-le-Soie and are descending.

Next it's the Côte de Wanne (3,6 km at 5,1%). Just 5km to go until that one.

90km to go

Gigante has now completed the descent and is approaching the next climb.

Gigante is on the Côte de Wanne now. Her gap has decreased to 2:35. 1:55 to the chasing trio. 

Gigante now on the steepest pitches of the Côte de Wanne, around 13%.

Over the top, the riders will descend for 5km before hitting the short but savagely steep Côte de Stockeu (1 km at 12,5%)

Kagevi has been dropped by her companions on the Côte de Wanne. 

80km to go

Onto the Côte de Stockeu (1 km at 12,5%) now. This climb has a maximum gradient of 16% near the top.

Kagevi has been caught by the peloton. Martín and Cadzow are just 15 seconds ahead.

It's a short descent after Stockeu, then the riders bounce into the Côte de la Haute-Levée (2,2 km at 7,5%)

Gigante's lead is coming down now. It's 1:50 after the Côte de Stockeu. 

Martín and Cadzow have started to close in, they are 1:10 from the lead.

75km to go

Gigante is now on the Côte de la Haute-Levée (2,2 km at 7,5%)

The gap is coming down quite dramatically as the peloton lift the pace on the climb.

Martín and Cadzow have been caught. Gigante now only has one minute on the peloton.

It's just started to rain heavily on the course. 

Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM) has attacked the peloton on the climb. She has a gap of 25 seconds over the peloton, 50 seconds behind Gigante. 

75km to go

An interesting move by Chabbey, an outsider for today.

Something to consider is that both riders ahead of the peloton have strong leaders in the peloton. Gigante's move is helping Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and Chabbey is there in support of Niewiadoma - both leaders can sit in the peloton a save energy.

Chabbey has been joined by Lotte Claes (Arkea). 

The chasers are not making further inroads into Gigante's lead. Gigante has a minute over Chabbey and Claes. The peloton are 1:50 down.

Now it's the descent towards the Côte du Rosier. 

70km to go

Claes is no longer with Chabbey. 

The Swiss has been caught by six others: Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime), Brand (Lidl-Trek), Van Agt (Visma-Lease a Bike), Harvey (UAE Team ADQ), Brown (FDJ-Suez), Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck)

That's a powerful group now in pursuit of Gigante. 

Gigante is still a minute ahead of the seven chasers.

This chase group is full of talent, and full of big teams. Who will chase now in the peloton?

Gigante is doing an amazing job to hold off this group in between the climbs. She still has a minute. 

The gap to the peloton is growing, it's now 2:15. With pretty much all the big teams in the chasing group, the peloton have taken the foot off the gas. 

65km to go

Now it's time for the next climb, the Col du Rosier (4,4 km at 5,9%). It's the longest climb of the race. 

The group of seven is closing in on Gigante. The gap is down to 40 seconds now. 

As Gigante hits the steeper section of the Col du Rosier, the chasing group is now just 15 seconds behind the Australian. 

Gigante has been caught by the group. It's now nine riders in the lead, 1:30 ahead of the peloton. 

They are approaching the top of the Col du Rosier.

60km to go

Over the top of the climb, the leaders now have a long descent before the Côte de Desnié (1,6 km at 8,1%)

We're approaching the final third of the race now and the final four climbs, including the renowned Côte de la Redoute and Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons where the race is usually decided.

Cofidis' Julie Bego is not happy with the pace in the peloton and she has attacked on the descent of the Rosier. She has 30 seconds on the peloton and is just over a minute behind the lead.

This is a fascinating tactical situation heading into the finale with all the big teams represented in the front group.

The question will be which team lacks confidence in their representation at the front and will choose to contribute to the chase?

Bego is a talented young rider. She won the Junior World Championships last year in Glasgow. The 19-year-old is not making a dent in the lead group yet, though.

The riders are still on the descent on their way towards the Côte de Desnié (1,6 km at 8,1%)

An interesting addendum to Gigante's long solo move today is that her team's title sponsor, AG Insurance, is also sponsoring the classified climbs. Possibly an additional reason that she was keen to be first over the top of the first five hills. 

50km to go

As they approach the Côte de Desnié, the lead group has extended their lead slightly. It's now 2:10. Bego is closing in, she is 55 seconds behind.

The lead group is flying up the Côte de Desnié. 2:30 now their lead. 

Can they make it all the way?

It's Team dsm-firmenich-Post NL taking responsibility at the front of the peloton. They have Juliette Labous in their squad who looked good on Wednesday at Fléche Wallonne. 

45km to go

The leaders are at the top of the Côte de Desnié now. They still lead by 2:30. Bego is 40 seconds behind them. It's quite a ride from the young Frenchwoman.

There's a plateau over the top of the Côte de Desnié now before the descent into the foot of the Côte de la Redoute (1,6 km at 9,4%), a key point in the race. 

That gap between the peloton and the leaders is growing further. It's at three minutes now. The peloton are still not chasing this dangerous group.

40km to go

The leaders are over the plateau now and are on the descent to the foot of La Redoute.

There really isn't much intent in the peloton behind. Côte de la Redoute will be the key moment if anyone wants to change that. It's possible that we will see some favourites on the attack on this climb, which has so often been the decisive moment of this race. 

Lidl-Trek are now leading the main group on this descent through Ellen van Dijk. Is this to set up a move from Longo Borghini?

35km to go

Côte de la Redoute is 1.6km at 9.4%, a real brute of a hill. The leaders are now at the foot of the climb.

Lidl-Trek have knocked more than 30 seconds off the gap on that descent. The advantage for the leaders is 2:25.

It's Grace Brown driving the pace on the front of the lead group on the early slopes of the climb.

This is a remarkable ride from Sarah Gigante. A reminder that she was away solo into a strong headwind for much of the day. She is sitting third wheel in this group and still looks good. 

Brown still putting her foot down. Eva Van Agt, Mikayla Harvey and Mischa Bredewold are being distanced.

With Bredewold falling behind, is this the time that SD Worx-Protime start to move behind?

Chabbey lifts the pace in the lead group. Now we have just three at the front: Chabbey, Brown and Cadzow. Gigante is fighting to stay in contact, but is 10 seconds behind.

In the peloton, Gaia Realini is making the pace hard with Elisa Longo Borghini in her wheel. 

The gap to the lead is down to two minutes. 

Paulina Rooijakkers now lifts the pace in the peloton.

The leading trio are over the top of the Côte de la Redoute. Gigante is not far behind. 

Rooijakkers still leads the peloton, only about 20 left in the group of favourites as they near the top. 

With Bredewold dropped from the leaders, Niamh Fisher-Black of SD Worx-Protime is now on the front of the peloton behind. 

All the favourites are in this group by the looks of it.

There is now another short climb before the descent to the Côte des Forges (1,3 km at 7,8%)

In total, the leaders only lost about 20 seconds to the favourites on the Côte de la Redoute. There is still a lot of power in this trio in front.

30km to go

30 seconds behind the leaders is a group of five consisting of: Bredewold, Gigante, Van Agt, Perkins and Brand.

Harvey and Bego are together about a minute down.

The pace has slowed again in the favourites' group and the gap balloons again. It's 2:40 now for the leaders. All the work the favourites did on Côte de la Redoute has disappeared. 

That's the end of the unclassified climb. The leaders are now on the descent to the foot of the penultimate climbe of the day, the Côte des Forges (1,3 km at 7,8%)

Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) has attacked the peloton but is quickly brought back.

It's not looking good for this group.

The scale seems to be tipping towards the three leaders now.

SD Worx-Protime have had to start using Lotte Kopecky to chase now for reigning champion Demi Vollering.

25km to go

Perkins and Gigante have attacked the group their fellow chasers with no response from Bredewold, Brand and Van Agt.

The pair are a minute behind the leaders. 

Onto the Côte des Forges (1,3 km at 7,8%) now. 

2:30 is the gap to the favourites' group led by Liv-AlUla-Jayco.

Now on the climb, the favourites have sped up again. The gap is back down to two minutes. It's Gaia Realini on the front again. 

Brown is driving hard in the front group. Cadzow is grimacing to hang on, which she does.

The leaders are starting the descent to the final climb of the day, the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1,3 km at 11%)

Whatever happens in this finale, it's been an impressive ride from Chabbey, Brown and Cadzow.

Having dropped back from the break, Mischa Bredewold is now helping on the front of the peloton.

20km to go

Lidl-Trek and SD Worx-Protime, the two biggest teams in the peloton, are now fully committed to this chase. Spratt, Brand and Bredewold are the riders drilling it on the front of the group. 

The gap has decreased to 1:43.

The leaders are nearing the end of this fast descent now. The gap is falling and is now 1:30.

Expect attacks on the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons - it's the last chance for the likes of Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini.

15km to go

Time for the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons! 

The gap has fallen to 55 seconds. 

Perkins and Gigante have been caught before the climb.

Chabbey goes hard from the bottom and Cadzow is distanced.

Shirin Van Anrooij on the front of the chase group with Longo Borghini in the wheel. Vos, Kopecky and Niewiadoma are right there near the front.

Chabbey and Brown are still giving it everything up front. Cadzow is about 5 seconds behind. 

Attack by Elisa Longo Borghini! Vollering on the chase. 

Longo Borghini, Vollering, Vos and Niewiadoma have got some separation from the rest.

Kim Cadzow has gritted her teeth on this climb and is back at the front.

The gap is 45 seconds.

Vos has been dropped by Longo Borghini's pace.

Chabbey rode the front of the breakaway up the whole climb. It's still a front three as they crest the Côte de la Roche-aux-Faucons. 

Longo Borghini, Vollering and Niewiadoma are 35 seconds behind as the crest the climb.

The next group including Vos, Markus and Labous is another 30 seconds down. 

A short descent is over almost instantly and then the leaders are on another unclassified climb, the final rise of the day.

Markus is working in the third group to bring team-leader Marianne Vos back up toward the front. They are only 12 seconds behind the second group led by Elisa Longo Borghini.

That third group also contains Niamh Fisher-Black, Ricard Bauernfeind, Neve Bradbury and Juliette Labous. 

Four riders in the front three groups for Canyon//SRAM.

The gap to the chase group is coming down on this rise. Just 13 seconds now between the Chabbey and Vollering groups. 

10km to go

This front three are not giving up hope. Brown and Chabbey have been doing much of the work and they are just about holding off the chasers.

There's a short plateau now before they descend into Liége. Vollering is using this to close the gap to the front three. Just 5 seconds now between the first two groups.

7km to go

Longo Borghini has attacked and has made it up to the front three. Niewiadoma is not coming through so Vollering takes her time to chase back up.

Seeing the gap behind, Longo Borghini has attacked and is slightly ahead with Chabbey and Brown in the wheel. 

6km to go

As the group of six was coming back together, a small incident for Grace Brown and she just about avoids a crash.

This opens the gap again and Longo Borghini and Chabbey are still five seconds ahead. 

Cadzow and Brown are now behind as the front four come together. 

5km to go

Attack from Niewiadoma, chased down by Longo Borghini. 

Two Canyon//SRAM riders in this front group. A tactical advantage for them. 

The Antipodean duo of Cadzow and Brown have made their way back up to make a front six as they head into the outskirts of Liége.

3km to go

A tense finale now. Longo Borghini and Vollering are surely the fastest here in a sprint. Can the others find a good moment to attack?

2km to go

Vollering leads the group as they head into Liége.

Attack by Niewiadoma closed down by Brown. 

1km to go

Chabbey tries a move under the flamme rouge, but Longo Borghini closes it down. 

Now Niewiadoma goes, Cadzow chasing. 

Final corner, Niewiadoma still has a few metres as Cadzow fades. Longo Borghini now closes her down. 

Niewiadoma continues to drive it on the front.

Longo Borghini leads out the sprint.

But Grace Brown comes over the top to take the win!

Brown wins, Longo Borghini was second and Vollering third. 

Brown had been on the attack for 100 kilometres today, but she still had the power to overcome Longo Borghini in the dash to the line. 

She was second in this race in 2022, but Grace Brown has managed to go one better today.

Top 10:

1. Brown (FDJ)

2. Longo Borghini (LTK)

3. Vollering (SDW)

4. Chabbey (CSR)

5. Niewiadoma (CSR)

6. Cadzow (EFE)

7. Vos (VLB)

8. Labous (DSM)

9. Bauernfeind (CSR)

10. Fisher-Black (SDW)

It was a remarkable sprint in the final metres by Brown. Here's our full report from the race:

Liège-Bastogne-Liège: Grace Brown wins breakaway sprint to claim monumental victory

Here's what Brown had to say after the race:

"It was an amazing day and I wanted to be in the break. We all know a strong break can go in the middle of the race. We worked really well together."

"I felt on my limit in the climbs towards the end, but once I'd got over Roche-aux-Faucons I though 'alright it's on'."

Third in the end for last year's Ardennes queen, Demi Vollering. By her very high standards, this week will go down as a disappointment. 

She is still winless for 2024 - she had five big wins already by this point last season.

The classics are over, it's time now for the 27-year-old to re-focus on her stage race goals.

That's the end of our live coverage of Liége - Bastogne - Liége Femmes. 

Check back later for more news and reaction from both the women's and men's races today.