Kim Le Court wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège

Kim Le Court wins Liège–Bastogne–Liège

AG Insurance – Soudal’s 29-year-old became the first African rider to win a Monument.

Kim Le Court wrote history for AG Insurance – Soudal and Mauritius, sprinting to a formidable victory at the final Monument of the season, Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Le Court, who raced the Belgian Classic for the first time in his career, emerged as the fastest from a strong four-rider group on the Quai des Ardennes to take a career-defining win that left her in disbelief as she crossed the line.

Sunday’s race, 153 kilometers in length, exploded after La Redoute, when a strong front group formed at the front, only for the peloton to bring them back. Another small group then went clear, while Kim found herself part of the reduced peloton. Thanks to a remarkable effort on Roche-aux-Faucons, the last ascent of the day, she bridged across to the leading group that eventually ended up fighting for the victory.

Entering the final three kilometers, the quartet enjoyed a gap of half a minute on the chasers, at which point it became pretty much clear the winner would come from there. Le Court went under the flamme rouge in second wheel and patiently waited for the last 200 meters to launch an incredibly strong sprint that propelled her to this fantastic victory ahead of Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez).

“I’m speechless. I was encouraged the entire time in the final part of the race through the radio communication and I pushed hard to return to the front group, but not even in my wildest dreams I would have imagined this outcome. When I was distanced, I didn’t give up, and feeling that I had good legs made me even more confident. Then, as soon as I came back on Roche-aux-Faucons, I could see the others were suffering, and this motivated me even more.”

“In the final kilometers I kept some energy for the sprint and I launched my effort without looking back. I’ve been so close numerous times this season, so to finally pull it off makes me very proud and happy. I want to thank the entire team for their confidence and support, without them I wouldn’t have won Liège–Bastogne–Liège on my debut. It’s a great day for myself, for our beautiful squad, for my country and for our amazing sponsors, a day I am sure we will always remember”, said an emotional Kim, whose palmares this season also features an overall podium at the UAE Tour, as well as two top-five finishes in Milano-Sanremo and Ronde van Vlaanderen, and a sixth place in Flèche Wallonne.