Lorena Wiebes extended her phenomenal 2025 campaign with a dominant sprint victory at Binche–Chimay–Binche pour Dames, securing her 25th win of the season and her second triumph at the Belgian one-day race. The Dutch national champion of SD Worx–Protime was in a class of her own on the cobbled finish in Binche, launching a devastating sprint to beat Lara Gillespie of UAE Team ADQ and Maria Giulia Confalonieri of Uno-X Mobility.
Early Dutch breakaway animates the opening phase
The 121.4-kilometre race began in Chimay, contrary to its name, before heading north to Binche for two and a half laps of the local finishing circuit, featuring a long uphill drag and a stretch of cobbles that would ultimately decide the race.
A fully Dutch early breakaway set the tone for the first half of the day. Anne van Rooijen of VolkerWessels and Kirstie van Haaften of Cofidis went clear with Britt de Grave of DD Group, but only Van Rooijen and Van Haaften managed to hold on as the gap grew to nearly three minutes. Their lead, however, was steadily reduced as SD Worx–Protime began to organise the chase, keeping the advantage within reach.
As the race entered its final 30 kilometres, the peloton had reeled in the escapees. The pace then intensified as repeated attacks began to stretch the bunch on the rolling approach to Binche.
SD Worx–Protime contain the chaos
The first serious counter came from Josie Nelson of Picnic PostNL, who briefly opened a gap before being chased down by the SD Worx–Protime train. Mischa Bredewold then made several probing moves, forcing other teams to respond, before Lieke Nooijen of Team Visma | Lease a Bike launched the most promising attack of the day.
Nooijen’s move drew out Femke Markus of SD Worx–Protime, Franziska Koch of Picnic PostNL and Gillespie of UAE Team ADQ. Shortly afterwards, Confalonieri—riding her final professional race—managed to bridge across, creating a dangerous front group of five. Their lead hovered at only a few seconds, and despite their cooperation, the peloton refused to give them space. Markus launched one last solo attempt when the break faltered, but she too was caught with eight kilometres remaining.
The decisive finale on the cobbles
The final 15-kilometre circuit into Binche saw continued aggression, but SD Worx–Protime reasserted control in the closing stages, setting up a predictable yet unstoppable outcome. As the bunch thundered onto the final cobbled stretch, Koch attacked early, attempting to disrupt Wiebes’ rhythm. The Dutch champion immediately closed the gap, with Gillespie and Confalonieri fighting to hold her wheel.
Linda Zanetti of Uno-X Mobility tried a counterattack, but Wiebes remained calm, launching her sprint with 150 metres to go. The result was emphatic—within seconds she had opened a clear gap, with Gillespie unable to come around. Confalonieri crossed the line a few metres behind to take third in her final professional appearance, while Charlotte Kool of Picnic PostNL finished just outside the podium in fourth.
Wiebes seals a landmark season
The win marked Wiebes’ 25th victory of 2025 and the 118th of her career, confirming her dominance as the peloton’s most prolific finisher. It was also her first win wearing the Dutch champion’s jersey, adding extra meaning to a familiar result.
Her SD Worx–Protime squad once again executed a textbook performance, controlling the race, neutralising every move, and ensuring their sprinter could deliver yet another crushing finale. With the Belgian autumn classic drawing the curtain on the team’s road campaign, the victory was the perfect conclusion to a season defined by collective strength and Wiebes’ relentless winning form.
2025 Binche–Chimay–Binche pour Dames result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
