Demi Vollering Seals Historic Third Liège-Bastogne-Liège Women’s Victory
Demi Vollering cemented her place in cycling history on Sunday, April 26, 2026, by winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège femmes for the third time in her career. The Dutch rider launched a decisive attack on the Côte de la Redoute with 34 kilometers remaining and rode solo to victory, finishing 1 minute and 28 seconds ahead of her closest rivals.
Vollering, wearing the European champion’s jersey, became the first woman in the history of the women’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège to win the race three times, having previously triumphed in 2021 and 2023. Her victory marked the second win of the week for the FDJ United-Suez rider, following her success in the mid-week Flèche Wallonne.
The race, held on the traditional Ardennes routes in Belgium, saw Vollering establish her advantage on the feared Redoute climb. After distancing the peloton, she managed her effort expertly to the finish in Ans, maintaining her lead over the chasing group of favorites.
Puck Pieterse of the Netherlands claimed second place in a sprint finish, edging out Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma and Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen. The podium completed a strong showing for Dutch riders, with Vollering and Pieterse giving FDJ United-Suez a one-two finish in the prestigious Monument race.
For defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the day ended in disappointment. The French rider, who won the Tour de France Femmes in 2025, was unable to respond to Vollering’s move on the Redoute and quickly lost contact with the lead group. Ferrand-Prévot eventually finished in 22nd position, over five minutes behind the winner.
Finishing behind Ferrand-Prévot was her younger sister, Axelle Dubau-Prévot, who placed 10th for Visma-Lease a Bike. The result highlighted a difficult Ardennes campaign for the former world champion, who had entered the race seeking her first road victory of the 2026 season.
Vollering’s winning time advantage of 1’28” over the peloton underscored the dominance of her performance. Her attack on the Redoute, one of the race’s most decisive moments, came at a point where she had already won three of the season’s major spring classics: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Tour des Flandres, and Flèche Wallonne.
The victory completed a remarkable spring campaign for Vollering and her FDJ United-Suez team. With Kim Le Court absent due to injury, Vollering seized the opportunity to add another Monument to her palmarès, further establishing herself as one of the sport’s leading riders.
As the women’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège continues to grow in stature, Vollering’s third win places her in exclusive company. No other woman has won the race more than twice since its inception in 2017, making her achievement a significant milestone in the event’s relatively short history.
Looking ahead, Vollering will aim to build on this momentum in the upcoming Ardennes classics and summer stage races. For Ferrand-Prévot, the focus will shift to regaining form and targeting success in later season objectives after a challenging spring campaign.
What does this historic third victory mean for Demi Vollering’s legacy in one of cycling’s most demanding one-day races? How might Pauline Ferrand-Prévot respond to this setback in her quest for consistent top-tier performances?
Share your thoughts on this remarkable achievement in the comments below, and stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the women’s WorldTour season.
