Vollering takes her first victory in Oudenaarde
Vollering soloed to her first Tour of Flanders victory in Oudenaarde. The European champion launched the decisive attack on the Oude Kwaremont and rode everyone off her wheel. Ferrand-Prévot beat Pieterse in the sprint for second place.
A packed Market Square in Oudenaarde set the stage for the 23rd edition of the women’s Tour of Flanders. After twenty kilometres, a group of four riders broke away from the peloton. Kolesava (CANYON//SRAM Zondacrypto), Beekhuis (Uno‑X Mobility), Mrugal (Mayenne Monbana My Pie) and Von Berswordt (VolkerWessels Cycling Team) found each other in the break. A little later, Wreszin (St Michel – Préférence Home – Auber93) and Van Dam (Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team) managed to bridge across, forming a lead group of six.
As the race progressed, the leaders dropped one by one, except for Kolesava. She was the only one to tackle the Koppenberg alone. In the chaos leading to the foot of the climb, Reusser (Movistar Team) and Le Court (AG Insurance – Soudal Team) were involved in a crash and were forced to abandon.
On the Koppenberg, an elite group of around twenty riders broke clear from the peloton and headed towards the Taaienberg.
Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ) launched her first acceleration on the Oude Kruisberg, instantly causing a new selection. With another attack on the Oude Kwaremont, the Dutch rider dropped Kopecky (Team SD Worx – Protime) and Ferrand‑Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and set off alone in pursuit of victory. Behind her, Pieterse (Fenix‑Premier Tech) overtook Kopecky and continued the chase together with Ferrand‑Prévot.
At the front, Vollering had found the perfect rhythm and pulled further away from the chasing duo metre by metre. The European champion soloed to her first win in the Tour of Flanders. In the sprint for second place, Ferrand‑Prévot came out on top. Pieterse finished in third place.
