The peloton started early for today`s Flèche Wallonne Féminine. Katia Ragusa was well awake and went in the early breakaway, showing the Liv Racing Xstra colors in the front for a long time.
Just after the start of the Flèche Wallonne Féminine several riders tried to launch an attack. The peloton reacted quickly however and reeled everybody in. Then Katia Ragusa tried her luck and the Italian Liv Racing Xstra rider immediately got a small gap. Two riders bridged to Ragusa some kilometers later and halfway the race another three riders joined the lead group.
Ragusa and her companions built up a lead of almost two minutes. After the first passage on the Mur de Huy the gap was only 45 seconds. Inside 50 km to go a group of ten riders bridged to the lead group on the Côte d`Ereffe. On the next climb the early escapees including Ragusa had to let go the other ten riders, which animated the final part of the race and eventually were reeled in on the penultimate climb of the day.
After the race Ragusa was satisfied with her performance. “We knew this was a very hard race and the plan was to go in the early breakaway today. After some unsuccessful attempts by our team I managed to get away. First two other riders joined me and later three other riders bridged to us. When the big chase group caught up I had to let go on the Côte de Cherave. It was nice to be in the front for a long time and show our team colors today. This is good for my morale after a hard beginning of the season.”