demi vollering schrijft geschiedenis met solooverwinning in liège
Luik, zondag, 26 april 2026.
demi vollering heeft op zondag 26 april 2026 de liège-bastogne-liège femmes voor de derde keer gewonnen. de nederlandse renster reed de laatste 34 kilometer alleen naar de finish. ze is de eerste vrouw die de koers solo wint. haar aanval op de côte de la redoute was doorslaggevend. daarop sloeg ze de rest van het kopgroepje af. puck pieterse werd tweede, kasia niewiadoma-phinnay derde. de overwinning komt vlak na haar zege op de flèche wallonne. het markeert een hoogtepunt in een dominante voorjaarscampagne. vollering benadrukte hoe ze al droomde van deze overwinning toen er nog geen vrouweneditie bestond.
historic solo victory crowns vollering’s dominance
Demi Vollering claimed her third Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes title on April 26, 2026, becoming the first woman to win the race solo [1]. She broke away from the leaders on the Côte de la Redoute, initiating a 34-kilometer solo effort to the finish in Liège [1]. Her decisive attack occurred approximately 35 kilometers from the finish line [2]. Vollering crossed the line 1 minute and 29 seconds ahead of her nearest rival [3]. This victory marks a historic achievement in women’s professional road cycling [1].
decisive attack on the côte de la redoute
The turning point of the race came on the Côte de la Redoute, where Vollering launched her winning move [3]. At that moment, she gained enough separation to survive subsequent chases [1]. Riders such as Puck Pieterse and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney attempted to respond but failed to close the gap effectively [3]. Despite cooperation among the chasing group, including Anna van der Breggen, Vollering steadily increased her advantage toward the finish [4]. The climb proved pivotal, mirroring strategic moves seen in recent men’s editions of the race [4].
podium rivals reflect competitive field
Puck Pieterse secured second place after contesting the sprint against Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who finished third [3]. Both riders acknowledged the difficulty of responding to Vollering’s relentless pace [4]. Pieterse expressed pride in her performance despite missing the win [4]. Niewiadoma-Phinney returned strongly following a crash earlier in the season at Milan-Sanremo [5]. Canadian world champion Magdeleine Vallieres placed eighth, nearly two minutes behind the winner [4]. French champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot finished 22nd, over five minutes adrift [4].
dominant spring classics campaign concludes
This victory completed a sweep of major spring classics for Vollering in 2026 [3]. Earlier wins included Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Tour of Flanders, and La Flèche Wallonne [3]. Her performance solidified her position as the most dominant female cyclist during the spring season [3]. Vollering emphasized emotional ties to the race, recalling dreams of competing before a women’s edition existed [4]. As reigning Tour de France Femmes champion, her focus now shifts to stage racing objectives later in the year [5].