Anna van der Breggen (Boels-Dolmans) won her sixth straight Fresh Wallonne Women's race to become the sole record holder, ahead of CCC-Liv's Marianne Vos (5 wins). But it was not to be, as Cecily Uttrup-Ludwig (FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope) and Demi Vollaring (Parkhotel Valkenburg) pushed Van der Breggen all the way to the finish.

Interestingly, these two have also won the Giro delle Miglia, which closes with a steep climb up San Luca in Bologna, twice before. Vollering won the Italian one-day race in 2019, while Uttrup-Ludwig replicated that success in 2020.

In the Flesch Wallonne, Vollering was the only one to dare to attack Van der Breggen on the sleeping slope of the Mûr de Huy; the 23-year-old Dutchwoman summoned her courage with 350 meters to go, opening a small gap for a moment. But soon Van der Breggen was on her wheel again, and Uttrup Ludwig jumped on Van der Breggen's wheel. Vollering and Van der Breggen continued to ride side by side for a while, but when they were 150 meters from the finish line, the world champions began their sprint. Vollering tried to follow, but was already too invested and finished in third place.

"I thought I could attack van der Breggen," he said. 'But the race was tougher than I thought it would be. Unfortunately, I had to bow out for the championship. Now I have enough for third place and I hope to improve one more position in Liège."

"I'm very happy with the result,"

"but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to win the championship.

In 2019, Volering celebrated his podium in Liège-Bastogne-Liège like a victory. But 17 months later, after finishing third in the Women's World Tour in La Course and Flèche Wallonne, she is looking for more places on the podium.

Before stepping up in Flèche Wallonne, Uttrup Ludwig had finished third in races such as Trofeo Binda, Tour of Flanders, and La Course. However, the 25-year-old Dane had to work hard to stay in contention in the last kilometer after suffering two mechanical problems in the final hour.

The first mechanical occurred 32 km from the finish, just before the first climb of the Mule de Uy; the second struck Uttrup Ludwig on the plateau following the Mule de Uy, who was in the lead group of 30 that formed after the climb.

"It was really hard to get back to the front the second time because there was no formation. I had time to recover to the finish, though," he recalled of his mid-race troubles.

Uttrup Ludwig, who was near Van der Breggen on the run-in, carefully measured his efforts in the Mool.

"Like the Giro delle Miglia goal, the Mur de Uy is very steep and long. 'It's never too early. I had to find my pace and wait. When Vollering attacked, I knew it was still too early. Then with 150 meters to go, Anna (van der Breggen) went. I followed her and gave it my all, thinking she might pass me, but she was too good today. But I feel I am getting closer to her every race. Who knows what will happen next time."

Video highlights of the 2020 Flèche Wallonne can be seen below.