Ashleigh shines with top 5 in La Flèche Wallonne.

In an epic edition of La Flèche Wallonne, AG Insurance - Soudal’s Ashleigh Moolman Pasio took an impressive top-five finish. Despite harsh conditions, with heavy rain showers and hail just before the start, followed by a rain-soaked finish and brief periods of melting snow at temperatures around 4 degrees Celsius, our rider put in a strong effort Wednesday afternoon.

The victory was clinched by Katarzyna Niewiadoma, followed by Demi Vollering and Elisa Longo Borghini in second and third places respectively, with Évita Muzic completing the top four.

The race was marked by early attacks, including one by Julie Van de Velde from AG Insurance - Soudal, who broke away with Sara Martin and Elena Hartmann with more than 100 kilometers to go. The trio was caught only six kilometers from the finish, and Julie Van de Velde impressed by winning the QOM Sprint on the Mur de Huy in the last 32 kilometers.

This year, the riders faced a 146 kilometer course starting at the Grand Place in Huy and finishing with the iconic climb of the Mur de Huy. The route included several climbs, including the Côte de Gives, Côte de Courrière, Côte d’Evrehailles, and the Côte d’Ereffe, which was climbed twice.

“It was a hectic day with extremely tough conditions and icy temperatures. Right from the start, there was sleet followed by continuous rain, making it incredibly cold. Normally I don't let the weather affect my performance, but these extreme conditions are not ideal for me. Nevertheless, I am proud of how I handled everything. I did my best to stay warm, eat regularly, and conserve as much energy as possible, all of which went well.”

“The entire team was incredibly brave today; everyone had to dig deep. It was particularly impressive how Julie took the initiative and escaped early in the race, completely according to our plan. She remained incredibly strong throughout the race. We only caught her when there were about six kilometers to go, which put us in a perfect position. When we caught up with Julie, I asked her for one last effort because of a surprise attack by Elisa Longo Borghini, Lotte Kopecky, and Elise Chabbey. Julie did everything she could to help me close the gap. When it came down to the last climb, I tried to use all the energy I had, but due to the cold, my legs were not as I am accustomed to. It was a constant, hard effort, but at the crucial moment, my muscles just felt empty, mostly due to the weather. It was a physically demanding race, but we are proud of what we achieved. We fought to prove ourselves and make AG Insurance proud, as this is a significant event for them. And now, we are heading to Liège”, said a happy Ashleigh.