In the Ardennes classic, Team SD Worx once again showed a rock-solid collective. Beyond the Côte de Stockeu, five riders managed to escape with Marlen Reusser defending the interests of the Dutch WorldTour formation. On the steepest part of the illustrious Côte de la Redoute, Reusser pulled through after which she left her fellow escapees behind. She managed to build a lead of up to a minute on the way to final climb the Côte de Roche-aux-Faucons. Led by Trek-Segafredo, the gap narrowed.
On the Roche-aux-Faucons, the best in the race were able to catch Reusser back, after which a group of six riders formed: Vollering, Reusser, Van Vleuten, Longo Borghini, Chabbey and Realini. On the spur of this Ardennes slope, Vollering stepped up the pace and managed to escape together with Elisa Longo Borghini. In the remaining ten kilometres, the pair were able to stay out of the grip of the chasers, after which Vollering claimed victory in the sprint. Reusser completed the success for Team SD Worx by finishing third.
"Last night I hardly slept because I was quite nervous for this race," Vollering told afterwards. "I really wanted to win today because I knew this was a unique opportunity to achieve the hat-trick in the three hill classics. You don't get the chance to do that every year. I wanted this so badly... Look, now, at Tadej Pogacar who, after his wins in the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne, was knocked out early in Liège by a crash. I definitely realise that I put in a special performance."
Vollering recorded the 14 wins this season for Team SD Worx and in no fewer than seven of those races, two riders from sports manager Danny Stam's team were on the podium. Vollering herself set a unique series with victories in Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Amstel Gold Race, Waalse Pijl and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. She also came second in the Tour of Flanders (behind teammate Lotte Kopecky) and in the Brabantse Pijl. The big step the Zuid-Holland has made this year is that as a super favourite, she also knows how to finish it.
Vollering: "In Liege, I definitely had the feeling that everyone wanted to gear the race to me. It's a situation I sometimes had problems with last year, but which I have made steps in. Of course it does help to have this team behind me. All the girls rode super strong and also expressed full confidence in me. Then you want to get the win for them as well."
Marlen Reusser was amazed by her third-place finish. "I had a tough week, so I was a bit worried that my legs would not be good," the Swiss rider indicated. "To my own surprise, I was in the breakaway of six riders and felt I was riding better and better. After I was left alone on the Redoute, it was still super far to the finish. I knew I couldn't keep this up. Fortunately, Demi took over. With a first and third place in the results, we rode another perfect race."
The Tour de France Femmes is Vollering's next big goal. First, Vollering still rides the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta, Itzulia Women, Vuelta a Burgos, Tour de Suisse and Dutch Championships on the road. Vollering: "Before the Tour, I will also go on altitude training. These achievements are of course a huge motivation to work even harder during that training camp to be even better at the Tour."
