The fourth edition of the Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames delivered a tense finale on the climb to the Namur Citadel, where Shari Bossuyt clinched her first victory since returning to racing this summer. The Belgian rider of AG Insurance-Soudal outsprinted Karlijn Swinkels and Elisa Balsamo from a select group to take the biggest win of her road career.
The 128.8km route from Soiron to Namur was shaped by a series of early attacks. In the opening hours, a breakaway of Yonna van Dam, Malou Eisen, Dina Boels and Nathalie Bex carved out a lead, though the quartet was steadily reeled back before the final third of the race. From there, the peloton saw a flurry of counter-attacks. Ellen van Dijk, racing again just a week after her official farewell at the Simac Ladies Tour, was active at the front, along with Dominika Wlodarczyk. Their efforts briefly stretched the race, but they too were unable to escape the bunch’s control.
On the penultimate climb, Babette van der Wolf made a solo move in an attempt to split the field, but her attack faded as the pace increased heading into the decisive climb of the Côte de la Citadelle de Namur. This 2km ascent at 6%, with cobbles and ramps of 8%, was always destined to decide the race.
Liane Lippert was the first to strike, launching a fierce acceleration on the cobbled ramps of the Citadel. Her move briefly had Bossuyt on the ropes, with the Belgian admitting she “couldn’t immediately follow.” Instead, she rode her own tempo to recover and make it back into the lead group just as the climb flattened slightly near the top. As the reduced bunch approached the line, Bossuyt launched her sprint at the perfect moment, surging clear to win ahead of Swinkels and Balsamo. Lippert followed in fourth.
After the finish, Bossuyt described the tension of the final kilometre. “When Lippert attacked on the Citadel, I couldn’t immediately follow. I tried to ride at my own pace but I also had to recover from the effort. Then it was time for a sprint,” she explained. “It was a really tough climb, but luckily I can now close a very tough and difficult period.”
For Bossuyt, who tested positive for Letrozole in 2023 and served a two-year suspension, the victory carried extra weight. Her comeback earlier this summer had already seen her twice finish sixth on stages at the Tour de France Femmes, but this was her first win back and her first on the road overall. “It’s an incredible win! I worked hard for this and this result shows that I am back,” she said. “On the Citadelle, I remained calm and accelerated only after the last corner, knowing it was a bit flat and downhill from there. I had very good legs today and I am happy I could show this and repay the team for their confidence. It’s a great moment in my career and I will enjoy it.”
With her victory, Bossuyt became AG Insurance-Soudal’s fifth different winner of the season, confirming the team’s growing depth, while the podium rounded out with Swinkels and Balsamo, two of the peloton’s most consistent fast finishers. The Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames once again showcased attritional racing and a punishing finale, with Bossuyt’s name added to the race’s roll of honour in striking fashion.
2025 Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: AG Insurance-Soudal
