A bittersweet second place for Puck Pieterse at La Flèche Wallonne Femme, which saw Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) win after attacking 500 meters from the finish at the Mur de Huy.
“This climb is all about being well-positioned at the bottom and going all out. When you start the Mur, you know it’s the most painful four minutes of the year. For sure it doesn’t look pretty, especially the last bit, when you start sprinting!”, said Pieterse, who had won the race in 2025.
“I had to follow my own pace, I didn’t want to stand still at the middle of the ascent. When I started my sprint, at first, I was hesitant and I came close, so I thought maybe there’s something possible… But Demi was just a bit faster. I pushed to the max today on the Mur, so I can only take a good feeling with me to Sunday,” added the 23-year-old FENIX-Premier Tech rider referring to her next race Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes.
