Demi Vollering storms to Liege-Bastogne-Liege treble as impressive season continues

Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) was happy to bide her time until 34km to go, when she opted to make her move on La Redoute - and no one in a field packed with talent could follow her.

From there, she powered away to win by 1’29’’, with Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) completing the podium. 

”It’s incredible, I really wanted to win again here. I mean I really love this race, it brings back so many good memories,” Vollering said.

”Even as a club rider, not having a women’s race yet, I was dreaming of it. To become a pro and go for a third one here, I’m so proud. Women’s sports deserve so much more.”

Vollering’s win added to her victories here in 2021 and 2023 to make her the first rider to win three Liege-Bastogne-Liege titles.

But she could not have done it without her team-mates, who kept the breaks quiet with no one dangerous really getting established in the first half of the race.

They also pulled hard on the front up La Redoute to start to break apart the field and set up Vollering’s race-winning move. 

And afterwards, the Dutchwoman confirmed it had always been her intention to attack at that point. 

”That was the plan, I wanted to go all out for this victory and have no regrets afterwards. We planned to have a team-mate out front but that didn’t work. 

”Still, I went and it was a long way from there, but I managed to find the finish line and finish it off.”

While the race was relatively calm for the first half in gloriously sunny conditions, it was at 42km to go when things first got interesting. 

A group of seven briefly got away, with Elise Chabbey (FDJ United-Suez) the most dangerous seemingly sent up the road to act as a bridge for Vollering. As such, the peloton was quick to reel them back in, the lead never going beyond 45 seconds. 

Next up though, was the Cote de la Redoute, a 1.6km climb at 9.4%, and Vollering positioned herself nearer and nearer the front as her team pulled, before attacking approaching the top. 

Pieterse was the first to respond but she could not stay with Vollering because no one had the power to hold the Dutchwoman’s wheel. 

Niewiadoma, and Lidl-Trek's Niamh Fisher-Black and Isabella Holmgren joined Pieterse in the ultimately fruitless chase, forming a group of four to try and reel in the superstar. That became three, Fisher-Black unable to stay with the pace.

But Vollering was gone, showing everyone a clean pair of heels. She hit the bottom of the Cote des Forges with a 32’’ lead, as the second chase group containing reigning Tour de France Femmes champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) began to give up the ghost. 

Vollering reached the penultimate climb with that half-minute lead - by the time she had descended, her lead was more than 40 seconds. That continued to grow, her chasers unable to reel her in despite taking turns on the front and working well together. 

The Dutchwoman’s lead was more than a minute when she began the final climb, the Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons, and she did not waver. Teeth bared in a grimace, Vollering went over the top and took a few more seconds out of the chasers. 

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) joined the chase group of three with 10km to go as Holmgren began to drop back.

But even with Van der Breggen, a former winner, in their ranks, the chasers could only take a few seconds out of Vollering’s lead. 

All of which left Vollering able to cruise across the line, arms aloft as she claimed an historic third victory in the 10th edition of Liege-Bastogne-Liege. 

Having put together such a successful spring season, with victories in La Fleche Wallonne Femmes, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Omloop Nieuwsblad, attention has already turned to the Grand Tours - with Vollering immediately asked about the Tour de France Femmes, a race she has won once.

But Vollering was keen to stay in the moment and enjoy her success in a race that certainly saw the best of her. 

”The Tour is still far [off], you need to stay healthy and have a good training period. This we should enjoy and what is coming, is coming later,” she concluded.

Stream the 2026 cycling season live on TNT Sports and HBO Max