The Flèche Wallonne Féminine, previously known under a string of near-identical names, has become a cornerstone of the women’s spring calendar since its creation in 1998. Designed as the women’s counterpart to the men’s Flèche Wallonne, it shares the same punishing finale: the Mur de Huy, a short but savage ascent that leaves no room for bluffing. From the outset, the race has been dominated by the sport’s strongest climbers. Fabiana Luperini set the tone with three victories in the first five editions, stamping her authority in an era when she also dominated the Giro Donne. British champion Nicole Cooke then added back-to-back wins in the mid-2000s, before Marianne Vos entered the conversation.
Vos was near-untouchable between 2007 and 2013, collecting five wins with a mix of patience, positioning, and explosive power. Her last victory came in 2013, and interestingly, she has yet to return to the podium here since. Then came the Van der Breggen era. No rider has owned this race quite like Anna van der Breggen. From 2015 to 2021, she won every edition, fully seven editions in a row. Her 2017 win, coordinated with a long-range move by teammate Lizzie Deignan to neutralise Kasia Niewiadoma, stands out as one of the best-executed team performances in the race’s history.
Since Van der Breggen’s retirement, the race has been more unpredictable. Marta Cavalli took a surprise victory in 2022 with a devastating uphill sprint that left even Annemiek van Vleuten behind. Vollering then delivered in 2023 with her typical precision, and in 2024, Niewiadoma finally triumphed, on a climb that had haunted her for years.
The 2025 Flèche Wallonne Féminine follows the now-established format used in recent editions. Riders start in Huy and tackle a rolling loop through the Ardennes, with a total distance of around 130km. While the early terrain is lumpy, the defining phase of the race comes in the closing local circuit. Riders face two laps of a loop that features both the Côte d’Ereffe and Côte de Cherave—climbs that sap the legs before the final test—but the real selection is always reserved for the last few kilometres.
The Côte d’Ereffe is a steady drag at just over 2km, averaging 5%, followed by the sharper Côte de Cherave, which kicks up at a more selective 8% and often sets up late attacks. However, unless someone manages to escape with a small gap, it almost always comes back together on the run-in to Huy.
The Mur itself is only 1.3km long, but it averages 9.3% and features sections over 20%, with the steepest ramp maxing out at 26% inside the final 300 metres. It’s here that races are won and lost. Riders must judge the climb to perfection—too early and they risk blowing up, too late and they simply run out of road. Over the years, it has produced champions who knew when to wait, and others who dared to go first and never looked back.
Previous Winners
2024
Kasia Niewiadoma
2023
Demi Vollering
2022
Marta Cavalli
2025 Flèche Wallonne Féminine Race Profile
Live TV Coverage
Wednesday 23rd April 2025
Live on Discovery+/Max/TNT Sports Online across most of Europe
Live from 15:55-17:15
All times in BST
Twitter: #FlecheWallonne or #FWwomen
Startlist: FirstCycling
Flèche Wallonne Féminine 2025 Contenders
It took Kasia Niewiadoma nearly a decade of top-10s to finally conquer the Mur de Huy, but she did so in style last year, seizing her first-ever Flèche Wallonne Féminine win. Her record here is remarkable—1st in 2024, 2nd in 2021, 3rd in 2017, 4th in 2016, 5th in 2015, 6th in 2019, and 10th in 2020. She’s one of the most tactically reliable riders in this race, and even if she hasn’t matched that level so far in 2025, her best result was 4th at the Tour of Flanders; she always arrives ready to race when the Mur is in play. Whether she attacks from range or waits until the final ramp, she’s never far from the decisive move. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig might once have been considered a co-leader here, but her 2025 campaign has yet to spark into life. A best result of 24th means her form is a concern, even if her 2nd place in 2020 and 8th in 2021 show she has the tools for Huy. Neve Bradbury offers long-term climbing potential and has the ability to support deep into the race, with her 14th at Amstel Gold Race being a positive indicator after a quiet spring.
Demi Vollering is always going to be one of the major favourites on the Mur de Huy. She won in 2023, was 2nd last year, and has never finished lower than 10th. With two podiums already this Ardennes week – 4th at Amstel and a win at Strade Bianche – she’s clearly rounding into form again. The one cloud on her horizon is a possible ankle twist from her Amstel crash, but assuming she’s bounced back, she’ll be the rider to beat. Behind her, Evita Muzic has shown that she has the legs for this climb, finishing 4th in 2024 and 5th in 2023. If anything happens to Vollering, Muzic is a legitimate alternative who would likely be leading any other team. Juliette Labous remains a steady performer with 6th in 2021, 7th last year, and 4th just last weekend at Amstel. Maybe she lacks the punch to match the final kick on the Mur. Still, she’ll be key in positioning and tempo control. Elise Chabbey rounds out a very deep FDJ-Suez squad. She was 9th in 2023 but will likely play a supporting role this time with the team’s focus squarely on Vollering.
A podium regular without a win, Elisa Longo Borghini has everything but the final 300 metres of the Mur. She’s finished on the podium four times – most recently 3rd in 2024 and 2021 – and her consistency is no fluke, with five additional top-6 finishes across the years. After winning Brabantse Pijl and Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier this spring, her form looked ideal until she was neutralised at Amstel Gold Race and had to settle for 35th. Assuming that was a one-off, she’s a top contender once again. Silvia Persico, Erica Magnaldi, and Brodie Chapman give UAE Team ADQ a strong supporting cast. Chapman was 9th back in 2019 and has looked solid this spring. Magnaldi brings solid climbing pedigree, fresh off a win at GP Féminin de Chambéry, and could provide a secondary attacking option if the race opens early.
It’s impossible to write about this race without mentioning Anna van der Breggen, whose seven consecutive victories between 2015 and 2021 are part of Flèche Wallonne history. Now back racing after her time directing at SD Worx, she would have marked this as a goal from the start of the season. However, stepping off early at Amstel Gold Race with illness isn’t the ideal tune-up. If she’s recovered fully, she’ll be a favourite naturally – but if not, SD Worx will need to pivot. Lotte Kopecky showed her strength at Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, but the Mur is a very different beast. Her 15th place on debut last year is a decent start, and she’s improved her climbing every year, but it’ll take a sharp day to challenge the lighter climbers. Lorena Wiebes, while in fantastic form generally, simply isn’t built for this finale. Her role here will surely be limited.
Marta Cavalli, the 2022 winner of this race, has shown signs of returning to form with a 13th place at Sanremo Women earlier this season. While her 9th-place finish here in 2024 indicates her continued affinity for the course, her performance at Amstel Gold Race was less notable. However, given her history and capabilities, she remains a rider to watch if she can find her peak form. Pfeiffer Georgi is set to make her debut at Flèche Wallonne Féminine. While the Mur de Huy presents a new challenge, her adaptability could see her secure a strong result. Nienke Vinke, a promising young climber, has shown potential with an 8th-place finish on the Jebel Hafeet climb earlier this season. Although she finished 34th in her previous appearance at Flèche Wallonne Féminine in 2023, her development suggests she could improve upon that result.
With Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot sitting out Flèche Wallonne Féminine, the leadership mantle at Team Visma | Lease a Bike passes to Marion Bunel, and it’s a real opportunity for the young French climber to test herself against the best. She didn’t finish here in 2024 – her debut – but arrives this year in much stronger form and with a clearer team role. Her 18th place at Amstel Gold Race was quietly impressive, especially given the different demands of that course. The Mur de Huy, with its leg-breaking gradient and sharp ramps, is a far better fit for Bunel’s skillset. If she rides it well, a top-15 and possibly even top-10 finish is within reach. She won’t be among the top-tier favourites yet, but this could be the result that cements her place as a go-to option in hilly races.
Lidl–Trek might not have a single obvious race-winning leader for Flèche Wallonne Féminine, but what they do bring is quality in depth. Gaia Realini remains the team’s best pure climber and finished 3rd here in 2023. That day, she danced up the final slopes with the best of them. She was a little further back last year in 22nd, and her 2025 season hasn’t quite found its rhythm either, as her best showing came from a 30th place in a time trial at Vuelta Extremadura Féminas. It’s not the usual build-up you’d expect before a race like this, but she still has the legs to be in contention if the tempo is high and selective before the final climb. Niamh Fisher-Black is the more intriguing option here. Now with Lidl–Trek after seasons of playing a support role at SD Worx, she’ll relish the freedom to ride for her own result. She’s finished 12th in 2020 and 17th in 2022—solid rides, but ones that came when she wasn’t given the chance to lead. This year, she should be unleashed, and with her strength over short, steep climbs, it wouldn’t be surprising to see her finally crack the top 10. A podium might still be a stretch, but if there’s hesitation behind, she’s the sort of rider who can benefit. The likes of Lizzie Deignan and Amanda Spratt are racing with bags full of experience and top-10 finishes here but we’re more likely to see them drop their leaders off in the perfect spots.
At AG Insurance–Soudal, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio brings one of the most consistent Flèche Wallonne Féminine records in the peloton. The South African has nine top-10 finishes here across her career, including podiums in 2013 and 2018, and most recently a strong 5th place in 2024. Her 11th at Amstel Gold Race last weekend was a timely reminder that she remains a factor in the toughest races, especially when the road tilts dramatically upwards. At 39, she knows this climb better than most and still has the legs to hang with the best when it matters. There’s also curiosity around Kim Le Court, who hasn’t raced here since 2016, where she finished 117th, a result that came in a very different phase of her career. The rider we’ve seen this spring is far more versatile and explosive, with top-5 finishes at both the Tour of Flanders and Sanremo Women. She may not be one of the primary favourites for the Mur de Huy, but it’s going to be interesting to see how much her capabilities have evolved when faced with one of the most iconic finishes on the calendar.
Puck Pieterse is perhaps the most fascinating unknown quantity heading into her first Flèche Wallonne Féminine. Her 3rd place at the Amstel Gold Race last weekend showed she’s not only in top form, but that she’s capable of challenging on climbs that require both power and timing. The Mur de Huy, though, is a different challenge—shorter, steeper, and more about managing explosiveness and precision than rhythm. With her cyclocross background, Pieterse has the raw engine and handling to respond to surges and carve out position when it matters, but whether that will convert into a result on her debut remains to be seen. There’s a case to be made for her winning this race one day, perhaps even this week. Backing her up, Pauliena Rooijakkers offers valuable experience. She was 6th here in 2024 and 11th in 2022—always close to the front when the gradient gets serious. However, she’s barely raced in 2025, and her best result so far was 18th at Brabantse Pijl. If she’s on a similar level, she could sneak into the top 15, but it would take a step up from what we’ve seen so far this year to replicate her 2024 ride. Yara Kastelijn is another bow in the quiver. She’s placed inside the top 20 in each of the last three editions, 9th in 2022, 10th in 2023, 18th last year, and arrives with solid form. A 7th at Brabantse Pijl and 15th at Amstel Gold Race show she’s climbing well, and if the pace is just below all-out, she’s got the endurance to hang on and possibly move up another place or two.
At EF Education–Oatly, the question isn’t one of talent—it’s how it all comes together on this very specific climb. Henrietta Christie finished 20th here last year, and while she’s struggled to crack the top 40 in most of her races this spring, that’s largely due to the domestique role she’s been playing. If she’s let off the leash and still has something left in the tank for the Mur, she could improve on that finish. Veronica Ewers was 14th in 2023, but it’s been a slow return to form this season as her best result so far is 66th at the Clasica de Almeria. On her best day, she’s a top-10 contender on this kind of profile, but we haven’t seen enough yet in 2025 to say she’s there. Cédrine Kerbaol is probably the most aggressive of the team’s options. She’s unlikely to shine on the final steep ramp of the Mur, but she could well go on the attack earlier to soften up the race. Her top result this season is 3rd at Trofeo Binissalem Andratx (which had a decent steep climb in the finale), and she’s hovered around the top 20 in big races like Alfredo Binda and Sanremo Women. Don’t be surprised to see her forcing a gap mid-race. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill could be a dark horse. She was 32nd here last year but has had a much stronger spring this time round, with 12th at Brabantse Pijl her best ride so far. Noemi Rüegg is having a very solid spring. While her best result here is only 47th in 2023, she’s been riding consistently near the front in harder races this year. That said, the Mur de Huy is not your average climb; it’s short, brutal, and rarely forgiving. A top-20 could be a breakthrough on this sort of tougher terrain.
Liane Lippert is once again the rider to watch for Movistar. A proven performer on the Mur de Huy, she’s finished 2nd in 2023, 7th in 2022 and 8th in 2020—always a reliable presence when the race is decided by strength and timing in the final 400 metres. Her podium at the Tour of Flanders confirmed her form heading into the Ardennes block, and this is the climb that suits her most. If she’s within striking distance at the foot of the Mur, expect her to launch late and go deep. Supporting her will be Mareille Meijering, who was 16th last year and has shown decent form in recent races, along with Paula Patiño, 18th here in 2022. Both are solid climbers who can help Lippert position at the base of the final ascent. Claire Steels, despite two previous DNFs, adds experience but will likely focus on early duties before the steep gradients come into play.
Liv AlUla Jayco will look to a more open strategy without Mavi Garcia in the line-up. Monica Trinca Colonel could be their strongest contender after finishing 11th at Brabantse Pijl last week. She didn’t make it to the finish in last year’s edition of Flèche Wallonne, but her climbing has noticeably improved this spring. Caroline Andersson placed 25th here in 2024 and has quietly put together a string of respectable results in 2025, including 4th at Clasica de Almeria. She can survive repeated efforts and has a good kick if she makes the final selection. Silke Smulders, 103rd in 2023, will hope to make a much bigger impact this time. Her 10th at Strade Bianche showed she can handle steep gradients, and if she can recover in time from a packed spring calendar, she may sneak into the top 20.
Uno-X Mobility will be led by Katrine Aalerud, a rider with a solid history on the Mur de Huy. She’s placed 11th in 2020, 15th in 2021, and 14th last year – so consistently just outside the top-10, and always dependable when the road pitches up. Previously a key support rider for Annemiek van Vleuten at Movistar, she now has the freedom to race for herself and should thrive on the punchy climbs that define Flèche Wallonne Féminine. If the group is still relatively compact on the final ascent, Aalerud is one who can pick her moment and push into the top-10 with a strong final effort. In support, Solbjørk Minke Anderson, who didn’t finish last year, and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad, 68th in 2023, will likely be tasked with keeping their leader well-positioned through the early laps and into the final approach to the Mur.
Finally, Winspace Orange Seal continue their upward trajectory in 2025 with Karolina Perekitko, who makes her debut at Flèche Wallonne Féminine. She’s been knocking on the door of a breakthrough result all spring, with a podium at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour, 7th at Trofeo Palma Femina and a strong 14th at Brabantse Pijl. Her climbing has clearly improved, and while the Mur de Huy is a different type of test, she’s one of the more intriguing outsiders in the field. If she paces the final climb right, she could deliver a breakout ride.
Flèche Wallonne Féminine 2025 Outsiders
Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling AgencyFor Ceratizit Pro Cycling, Dilyxine Miermont could be a surprise package. Her 42nd last year wasn’t groundbreaking, but 2025 has seen her take a solo win in El Salvador and finish 7th on Jebel Hafeet at the UAE Tour—evidence of both climbing form and ability to hold a strong tempo over long efforts. Whether she can translate that into success on the punchier, more explosive Mur de Huy is another question, but she has the kind of shape to aim for a top-20 if she times her effort right and stays well-positioned.
Laboral Kutxa once again pin their hopes on Ane Santesteban, who’s twice finished 10th here, in 2022 and 2024. She thrives on sharp gradients and has a good feel for how to manage her effort on repeated ascents of the Mur. Her spring hasn’t delivered any stand-out rides, though a 4th on Stage 4 of the Vuelta Extremadura Feminas showed she still has the legs. A surprise DNF at GP Féminin de Chambéry last weekend is the only concern, leaving her with slightly more question marks than usual heading into this year’s race.
VolkerWessels brings Eline Jansen as a rider to keep an eye on. She was 28th here in 2024 and comes off a strong ride at Amstel Gold Race where she finished 17th—her best result of the spring so far. Jansen has shown she can handle short climbs well, and if she times her effort right, she could sneak into the second group on the road and ride into the top 20.
Arkéa–B&B Hotels has two nice outsiders. Lotte Claes, the Omloop het Nieuwsblad winner, was 36th in 2024, and has had some decent rides this spring and is climbing reasonably well, but may find herself outgunned when the favourites turn on the pressure up the Mur. Valentina Cavallar, who didn’t finish last year, hasn’t shown major signs yet this season of being able to contend in a race of this severity. Both are more likely to animate the race early than feature late.
Roland brings Petra Stiasny as a potential outsider to watch. She was 39th in 2023, but arrives this time in noticeably better form. A 7th place finish at GP Féminin de Chambéry last weekend was a strong sign of her climbing ability, and she also picked up a win earlier in the season at the Grand Prix Boquerón in El Salvador, albeit against a reduced field. The main concern for Stiasny is likely to be positioning—she’s not the most aggressive rider when it comes to the fight for space into the base of the Mur.
Ségolène Thomas is another climber coming off a solid result with 10th at GP Féminin de Chambéry. That sort of form puts her in the mix as a credible outside threat, especially in the right race scenario where the favourites hesitate or mark each other. However, against a WorldTour-level peloton on the Mur de Huy, it’s a serious step up in intensity. If she can stay calm through the early laps and doesn’t lose ground on positioning, Thomas could put herself in the conversation for a second-group finish.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Demi Vollering
⦿ Elisa Longo Borghini
⦿ Kasia Niewiadoma
