Six riders went into the final kilometres of Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 in a thrilling finale. Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) launched a late attack in the final sprint, overtaking Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) in the lead in the final metres and relegating her to second place. Third place went to last year's winner Demi Vollering (SD Worx - Protime). Best German is Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon//SRAM) with a strong ninth place.
Brown with the best timing in the final sprint
For a long time, the three breakaway riders Grace Brown, Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Cannondale) and Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM Racing) were in the lead. Six kilometres before the finish, however, they were joined by the three favourites Elisa Longo Borghini, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and Demi Vollering, meaning that six riders rode the final kilometres together. In the final sprint, the two Canyon//SRAM Racing riders Chabbey and Niewiadoma attacked one after the other early on, but then no longer had the necessary punch to maintain their pace on the long finishing straight. Longo Borghini followed Niewiadoma's sprint, meaning that she also lacked the necessary power in the final metres. Grace Brown, on the other hand, acted patiently, launching her attack late and passing Longo Borghini, who was in the lead. The Australian thus proved to have the best tactics in the final sprint and deserved to win the classic.
It's an incredible day. I really wanted to be in the escape group today. I was on the limit on the climbs, but luckily I survived them all and just kept going. It was a tough sprint and I'm over the moon that we were able to win today. - Grace Brown in the winner interview
Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 for women: Results - the top 10
- Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez) 4:29:00
- Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) +0:00
- Demi Vollering (SD Worx - Protime) +0:00
- Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +0:00
- Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +0:00
- Kim Cadzow (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +0:00
- Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) +0:52
- Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:52
- Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon//SRAM Racing) +0:52
- Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx-Protime) +0:52
How Liège-Bastogne-Liège 2024 went for the women
On the 153-kilometre route from Bastogne to Liège, Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) pulled away 20 kilometres into the race and quickly extended her lead. She had a maximum lead of over three minutes.
113 kilometres from the finish, Stina Kagevi (Team Coop-Repsol) took up the chase of the Australian and also broke away from the peloton. A short time later she was joined by Sara Martin (Movistar) and Kim Cadzow (EF Eduaction-Cannondale), so that the chasing group now comprised three riders. However, 76 kilometres before the finish, the three were dropped again, leaving Gigante alone at the front.
Gigante's long solo journey ends
This was followed by an attack from Elise Chabbey (Canyon//SRAM Racing), who had six other riders in tow. Grace Brown (FDJ-Suez), Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx - Protime) and Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek), among others, were able to follow the Swiss rider. A chasing group formed, which caught up with Gigante 62 kilometres before the finish. From now on, there were eight riders at the front who harmonised well with each other.
As the race progressed, riders kept dropping out of the leading group, which consisted of just three riders with 34 kilometres to go: Elise Chabbey, Grace Brown and Kim Cadzow were at the front of the race and were able to defy the ever-increasing pressure from the peloton.
Favourites close the gap
With 14 kilometres to go, it was Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) who came out of the peloton. Only Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Canyon//SRAM Racing) and Demi Vollering (SD Worx - Protime) were able to follow her. Six kilometres before the finish, the three riders caught up with the three leaders.
In the end, it came down to a final sprint in which Grace Brown prevailed and won the race. She relegated Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering to second and third place.
