Pieterse conquers the Mur for debut victory
April 23 rd 2025 - 18:24
Puck Pieterse was the winner of the 28th edition of La Flèche Wallonne Femmes on Wednesday conquering the Mur de Huy for a memorable triumph. On her debut in the race the Dutchwoman from Fenix-Deceuninck took the win with a late attack 125m from the finish. She crossed the line 2” ahead of second-placed Demi Vollering (FDJ – SUEZ), with Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) in third and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) and Liane Lippert (Movistar Team) completing the top five.
No Van der Breggen
SD Worx-Protime's plans for the race were disrupted by continued illness for seven-time La Flèche winner Anna van der Breggen, who after abandoning at the Amstel Gold Race Ladies was unable to take the start, following a late fitness assessment by the team on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately Neve Bradbury (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) was also withdrawn before the start, with 140 riders finally present as the race got underway in Huy at 2pm.
Compact peloton
The peloton remained compact at the top of the Côte de Bohissau (km 10.5), but after 30km of racing a leading quartet of Célia Le Mouel (Ceratizit Pro Cycling Team), Marieke Meert (Volkerwessels Cycling Team), Julie Van de Velde (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) and Monica Greenwood (Team Coop-Repsol) had opened up a gap of 30". Eight further riders then escaped the peloton and caught the breakaway, which covered 34.5 km in the first hour of racing.
Knijnenburg attacks
Those 12 attackers did not stay out in front for long as they were reeled in by the bunch by km 47 and it was all still together as the peloton went over the Côte de Petite Somme (1.2km at 8.6%) at km 58.6. Anne Knijnenburg (Volkerwessels) then went on the attack and by the time she reached the first Côte d'Ereffe climb (2.1 km at 5%) at km 85.9 she led alone by 45".
Kerbaol’s solo adventure
Cedrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) then went on the offensive on the Côte d'Ereffe, reaching the summit with a 15” deficit to Knijnenburg and a 15” lead over the peloton, soon hunting down and joining the leader of the race. Kerbaol attacked again 52 km from the finish, quickly opening up a five second lead over Knijnenburg and also leading the peloton by 40".
Tough climbing
On the first Côte de Cherave climb (1.3 km at 8.1%) Kerbaol led by 20” whilst Knijnenburg was caught by the bunch. On the first ascent of the Mur de Huy (1.3 km at 9.6%) Kerbaol held a 20" lead over Katrine Aalerund (Uno-X Mobility) and a 40" lead over the peloton. Aalerund’s counterattack did not last long and with 30km to go Kerbaol had increased her advantage to 55”, though by the time she began the ascent of Côte d'Ereffe for a second time the bunch had closed within 30”. The French EF Education-Oatly rider’s solo adventure continued until the second Côte de Cherave climb began and she was engulfed by the chasing bunch with 6.9km to go.
Heated finale on the Mur
The peloton was reduced to about 30 riders on the penultimate climb of the day, with the Côte de Cherave impacting the race on its return to the route – having been omitted in 2024 due to roadworks. It all went down to the final climb on the Mur de Huy with 22 year-old Pieterse producing a stunning finish to beat her compatriot Vollering to the line, just as she did on Stage 4 of last year’s Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Liege.
