KASIA NIEWIADOMA-PHINNEY NARROWLY MISSES PODIUM IN GUTSY FLÈCHE WALLONNE DEFENCE

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney gave it her all, and then some, in a bid to replicate her 2024 La Flèche Wallonne Femmes success, ultimately finishing just off the podium in a tenacious fourth place.

This year’s race, as always defined by the spectacular yet brutal Mur de Huy (1.4km at 9.7%), saw Kasia perfectly placed in third position behind Labous and Vollering (FST) as the peloton hit the lower slopes. With 300 metres to go, both in the climb and the 140-kilometre race, and as the gradients steepened towards a punishing 19%, she was briefly distanced, slipping to fifth and then sixth. Refusing to give in, Kasia clawed her way back to the rear of the leading wheels with 200 metres remaining. Even 100 metres on the Mur de Huy feels like an eternity, but she never surrendered, nearly pipping Longo Borghini (UAD) on the line. A valiant effort, but just shy of the podium.

Despite the undeniable sting of fourth place, Kasia was reflective and positive post-race, pointing to the strong team performance and the potential that lies ahead.

“I think that today we’ve proven that we know how to race really as a team. We have a winning spirit within us and we embraced it – everyone was super committed to executing the plan. That was the best thing for us all to see, especially going into the final, how everyone was working hard and fully committing themselves to be there. That’s the biggest highlight of today – the teamwork that that we had together.

The downside is missing out on the podium, but the disappointment is not so much. I think sometimes you also need a little confidence or a mood booster to then come to the next race and push for that big victory, so maybe I have that now. Fourth is always a weird place – it feels like the worst, but I also know the shape is there. If we make a nice plan for Sunday then we can still finish the Ardennes Classics on a good note.”

La Flèche Wallonne Femmes began under grey, drizzly skies – a contrast to the bluebird conditions that have graced this year’s Spring Classics.

During the opening 80-kilometre loop through the unforgiving Ardennes countryside, attacks came and went. A non-threatening break of 12 riders established a gap before being replaced by strong solo moves.

As has almost always been the case, the race-winning raids were again to be made on the Mur, and CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto gave their all to set up the best possible scenario for the defending champion. Antonia Niedermaier, Alice Towers and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig were all present in the reduced bunch with 15km to go. Alice took the reins on the front of the peloton into the Côte d’Cherave (1.3km at 7.7%), with Cecilie turning up the pressure on the climb. Antonia followed suit, gritting her teeth as she ramped up the intensity, before accompanying Kasia into the final kilometre with a front group of barely 20 riders. The finish was so close yet so far, with the cruel Mur standing between them and the line.

In a testament to the continued progression in the professionalism and performance level of women’s cycling, Kasia recorded her all-time best five-minute power on the Mur, with jaw-dropping numbers recorded her Hammerhead computer. Despite this, she’s already looking for ways to improve even further.

“The Muur is so honest – there’s no faking it. It made me think that I need to go back to altitude beforehand because it’s something I changed last year and it worked. That’s modern cycling now; these gains can make the important difference.”

The team will now rest and recharge, physically and mentally, ahead of Sunday’s final Ardennes showdown – Liège-Bastogne-Liège.