La Flèche Wallonne Femmes: Demi Vollering delivers victory with Mur de Huy acceleration and holds off surging Puck Pieterse

Demi Vollering of SD Worx-Protime secured a dominant victory at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes, launching a decisive acceleration on the Mur de Huy to distance her rivals. She held off a late surge from cyclocross specialist Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), who finished second. Paula Blasi (Canyon-SRAM) rounded out the podium in third, denying Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney a coveted top-three finish on the iconic climb.

This win marks Vollering's second consecutive triumph at La Flèche Wallonne and her first major one-day victory of the 2024 season, following a somewhat subdued start compared to her stellar 2023 campaign. Her performance reasserts her status as a formidable force in the Ardennes Classics, particularly on steep, punchy finishes. Pieterse's impressive second place further highlights the growing crossover talent from cyclocross, demonstrating her adaptability and raw power on the road, while Blasi's podium is a significant result for the young Spaniard.

Vollering's return to the top step on the Mur de Huy was less a surprise and more a re-affirmation. The peloton knew what was coming; stopping it, however, remains a persistent problem.