As it happened: La Redoute proves pivotal launching the winning, solo move at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes

Demi Vollering of the Netherlands delivered a commanding performance to claim her third victory at the 2026 Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, becoming the first woman to win the race thrice. Her decisive move came on the iconic Côte de la Redoute, where she launched a solo attack with approximately 35 kilometres remaining. Despite the long distance to the finish, Vollering maintained her lead with remarkable strength and determination, ultimately crossing the line ahead of Puck Pieterse and Kasia Niewiadoma. The race unfolded with intense competition among the favourites, including Pieterse of Fenix-Premier Tech and Niewiadoma-Phinney from Canyon-Sram-zondacrypto, who both secured podium finishes. Pieterse, who has been a consistent presence in the Spring Classics, finished second after a strong chase, while Niewiadoma added a third-place result to her recent string of top performances following a serious crash earlier in the season. Anna van der Breggen also featured prominently in the final stages but was unable to bridge the gap to Vollering. Vollering reflected on her victory with evident pride, recalling her early dreams of competing in the race even before there was a women’s edition. She described the planned attack on the Redoute as a key tactical moment, acknowledging that although the initial team strategy did not fully materialise, she was confident enough to go it alone. Her win underscores her dominance in the Ardennes Classics, a region where she first made her mark in 2019 with podium finishes. This result not only cements Vollering’s status as a leading figure in women’s cycling but also signals a shift as the season moves from one-day races to stage events. The performance highlights the depth of talent in the women’s peloton and sets the stage for further exciting developments in the upcoming stage races. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Vollering and her rivals build on this momentum in the weeks ahead.