Van Vleuten conquers Liège-Bastogne-Liège

After three consecutive WorldTour races as runner-up, Annemiek van Vleuten (The Netherlands/Michelton-Scott) won Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège to take over the WorldTour lead. Van Vleuten attacked on the Côte de la Redoute after Canadian Leah Kirchmann’s escape was caught and soloed 30-km to victory. Van Vleuten took the WorldTour opener, Strade Bianche, in March.

??
And the winner is…#UCIWWT #LBLWomen pic.twitter.com/xnWE1pXtMw

— UCI_WWT (@UCI_WWT) April 28, 2019

The Course

The women’s peloton faced five climbs over 138.5 km, including the Cote de la Redoute (2 km of 8.9 percent) cresting with 31 km to go and Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons (1.3 km of 11 percent) the last climb with 15-km remaining. The day was wet and chilly

#LBLwomen Today we have ? 5x climbs:
⛰Côte de Wanne at KM 55
⛰Côte de Brume at KM 64.5
⛰Côte de la Vecquee at KM 90
⛰Côte de la Redoute at KM 107.5
⛰Côte de la Roche aux Faucons at KM 123.5

5 côtes seront à gravir aujourd'hui ?#UCIWWT

— Liège-Bastogne-Liège (@LiegeBastogneL) April 28, 2019

Early Action

The peloton was flying right from the start flag, perhaps trying to keep warm. With 102 km remaining, a rider from BTC City Ljubljana bolted, but Mitchelton-Scott recovered her before the first climb, Cote de Wanne.

#LBLwomen ?? Some strong work from MTS brought the solo leader back before the Cote de Wanne! ⛰

The first categorised climb is now dealt with as the race resets with just 50 riders left in the bunch! pic.twitter.com/9HewjydTox

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) April 28, 2019

Kirchmann’s Breakaway

On the Cote de Brume Leah Kirchmann bridged to Mariia Novolodskaia. With 58 km to go the duo had a 1:30 advantage.

#LBLWomen ??

With 58km to go @L_Kirch is up the road with Novolodskaya. The duo have an advantage of 1'30" over the peloton! ?? pic.twitter.com/OhRtLtDmik

— Team Sunweb (@TeamSunweb) April 28, 2019

Over the Cote de Vecquée to two led. With 50 km remaining, Boels-Dolmans was doing the yeoman’s job of chasing. The penultimate climb was the famed Côte de la Redoute, 2 km at 8.9 percent, where Kirchmann and partner would succumb to the will of the peloton.

On Redoute, van Vleuten attacked, Anna van der Breggen and Lizzie Deignan in pursuit.

#LBLwomen ?? The race is on! @AvVleuten has attacked solo! ?

She has a gap of 25 seconds over the top of La Redoute! ? pic.twitter.com/PHxyCHsUX0

— Mitchelton-SCOTT (@MitcheltonSCOTT) April 28, 2019

With 20-km to go van Vleuten held a 45-second advantage over Deignan and 55 seconds on a chase group. Only the 11 percent Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons remained. Deignan received reinforcements, but there was no denying van Vleuten on Sunday.

The Belgian race had an all-Dutch podium, as Kirchmann’s teammate Floortje Mackaij was runner-up and Demi Vollering third.

Leah Kirchmann was top Canadian at 18th.

2019 Liège-Bastogne-Liège
1) Annemiek van Vleuten (The Netherlands/Michelton-Scott) 3:42:10
2) Floortje Mackaij (The Netherlands/Sunweb) +1:39
3) Demi Vollering (The Netherlands/Parkhotel Valkenburg) +1:43
18) Leah Kirchmann (Canada/Sunweb) +2:47