“I looked behind me and thought, ‘Oh my God, I might have to sprint’" - Demi Vollering survives epic Puck Pieterse fightback on the Mur de Huy

Demi Vollering held her nerve on the Mur de Huy to win La Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2026, resisting a late surge from Puck Pieterse in a dramatic uphill finish that was decided in the final metres.

After launching a long-range effort on the decisive climb, the Dutch rider appeared to have the race under control, only for Pieterse to close rapidly in the closing metres and turn the finish into a tense battle all the way to the line.

The race had already been shaped by aggressive racing before the final climb, with repeated attacks and a reduced front group ensuring the contenders arrived at the Mur de Huy on tired legs.

Riding for FDJ-SUEZ, Vollering was delivered into position at the front of the race and committed early to her effort, replicating the long, sustained acceleration that has become her trademark on this climb. “I’m very happy to win and I think it was quite impressive,” she said afterwards.

Her move quickly created a gap, with only a select group able to initially respond as the gradient began to bite.

Behind her, the chase briefly faltered before Pieterse launched her own effort, closing the gap metre by metre as the climb began to flatten towards the finish.

Vollering, who had not initially checked behind her, suddenly became aware of the danger. “I hadn’t looked behind me, but I did just before the finish and saw Puck coming,” recalled the former Tour de France Femmes winner. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I might still have to sprint.’”

Despite the pressure, Vollering resisted the instinct to change her approach, instead committing fully to her original effort. “But I just kept riding at my own pace. I mainly didn’t want to have any regrets afterwards. There was no way back.”

The victory was also built on a strong collective performance, with FDJ-SUEZ helping to shape the race long before the final climb. “I’m very proud of them. We were always in control of the race.”

From setting the tempo on the local circuit to delivering their leader into the final climb in prime position, the team executed their plan with precision. “I pushed my teammates all the way to the finish, but they did a perfect job. The lead-out on the Mur was also perfect.”

Pieterse ultimately finished second after her late surge fell just short, while Paula Blasi completed the podium following a strong climb. Unlike the men’s race earlier in the day, the women’s edition was defined by sustained aggression and early selection, with the decisive group formed well before the Mur de Huy.

That intensity carried through to the finish, where Vollering’s early commitment and ability to hold her effort under pressure proved just enough to secure victory in one of the closest finishes of the Ardennes week so far.