2024 La Flèche Wallonne Femmes (not in LA), April 17

[Samu Cuenca]

With Amstel Gold Race done and dusted, it's now time for the women's peloton to duke it out on Mur de Huy.
The climb which was first dominated by Fabiana Luperini, then Nicole Cooke and later by Marianne Vos, before Anna van der Breggen with 7 straight victories became the reigning Queen of the Mur. Her protégé Demi Vollering was victorious in 2023.

This year, the riders will only climb the Mur twice, instead of three times like in recent editions, but with a record length of 146 km, we might still have an exciting race in store (or at the very least some kind of group sprint at the end).

However the best thing about this year's race is that it will finish after the men's.

Start list: https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=9051&y=2024&k=8

 

[RedheadDane]

Thank you for clarifying it's not in LA!

 

[JR1012]

I would add Fisher-Black to the list. Small chance but propably more realistic than Cavalli, who is coming back from injury and Kopecky, who maybe will struggle with the steep finish climb.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I would add Fisher-Black to the list. Small chance but propably more realistic than Cavalli, who is coming back from injury and Kopecky, who maybe will struggle with the steep finish climb.

I can think of quite a few riders who have at least the same chance of winning as NFB and some who definitely have better chances.

I don't really expect Cavalli to be up there tomorrow, but as the only other rider than Vollering on the start list to have won the race before, I've granted her a spot.

And due to my developing fake feud with LS, I probably have to include Kopecky in every poll from now on 😉

 

[yaco]

Vollering.

 

[Didinho]

Kopecky said she will be riding as a domestique.

 

[Didinho]

They started, soaking wet.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

So we have a break with Elena Hartmann, Julie Van de Velde and Sara Martín Martín up the road with around 50 km left.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

With 40 km to go, the gap is apparently still over 5 minutes. I don't think they will make it, but they can't horse around too much behind.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Live pictures now. The gap is unknown at the moment, but Brown and Rooijakkers have attacked from the peloton.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Laboral Kutxa at the front ♥️

33 km left, gap is 3:40.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Hartmann is losing contact on the Mur.

 

[Didinho]

I think this can be an Van Empel welcoming top 5 on her road campaign. Looked really good untill now. Don’t know if she’s closer to her CX form but this could be a good one today.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

I think this can be an Van Empel welcoming top 5 on her road campaign. Looked really good untill now. Don’t know if she’s closer to her CX form but this could be a good one today.

The finish should suit her, but if they reach the final in a big group, I still think a top 5 will be difficult.

 

[Izzyeviel]

who's doing the comms on discovery+?

 

[Winnen]

I think this can be an Van Empel welcoming top 5 on her road campaign. Looked really good untill now. Don’t know if she’s closer to her CX form but this could be a good one today.

Have you ever seen an explanation of why her CX dominance doesn't translate into results on the road? Maybe it is just my expectations, but I expected to see her in the top 5 regularly.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Have you ever seen an explanation of why her CX dominance doesn't translate into results on the road? Maybe it is just my expectations, but I expected to see her in the top 5 regularly.

We've not seen it translated to MTB either, although that might partially be due to her having had bad form and starting positions in the elite races she did last year.

She hasn't been in cycling for that long either, so getting used to road cycling might take a bit of time, especially when she hasn't done that many races yet. I'm sure she will be up there regularly soon.

 

[Didinho]

Fenix riding like prime Alpecin RVV’24.

 

[Didinho]

Shimano offering NFB a Politt sized bike.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Fenix riding like prime Alpecin RVV’24.

But they're missing a rider to pull it off at the end.

Horrible bike change for NFB.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

ELB looks very strong, but perhaps she's working for Realini.

 

[Didinho]

Have you ever seen an explanation of why her CX dominance doesn't translate into results on the road? Maybe it is just my expectations, but I expected to see her in the top 5 regularly.

Positioning and not in good form to have something left for the final. On this ascent I expect her to be really strong in the future, but she needs a team to get her in front. And better legs.
For MTB it’s more skill wise, hasn’t rode a bike for long. Was a footballer before also.

 

[jaylew]

who's doing the comms on discovery+?

Marty MacDonald and Dani Rowe.

 

[Didinho]

Rain on the Mur now!

 

[jaylew]

Have you ever seen an explanation of why her CX dominance doesn't translate into results on the road? Maybe it is just my expectations, but I expected to see her in the top 5 regularly.

She's actually done quite well considering how new she is to road and that she rides a ton of CX races unlike Shirin and Puck who rode very short CX programs. Fem even raced more CX races after winning Worlds. She did pick up a win last year, had several top 10s, and was 11th in the Giro.