Puck Pietarse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Tom Pidcock (Q36.5) signed outstanding performances at the Flèche Wallonne 2025, with victory for her in the Mur de Huy and a valuable third place for him in extreme conditions. The Dutch conquered her first victory in a classic WorldTour, while the British gave Q36.5 her first podium of the season.
Puck attacked at the right time
Puck Pietarse (Fenix-Deceuninck) rose with the victory in the 28th edition of the Flèche Wallonne Femmes, played this Tuesday, April 23 in Huy (Belgium), after launching a fulminant attack 150 meters from the goal in the Iconic Mur of Huy. The Dutch beat her compatriot Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ), who failed to respond to the change of rhythm and had to settle for the second position. Elisa Long Borghini (UAE Team Adq) completed the podium, imposing himself in a tight sprint to Kasia Nieves-Phinney (Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto).
Bikers’ prominence was completed by the Olympic champion, Tom Pidcock, capable of tracing in the final meters to end in the 3rd position of the male race.
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Puck Pieterse
Pietize continues its own script
“This time I ignored my sports directors.”
“I have given everything, but I am very happy to have achieved the victory here,” said Pietarse after crossing the finish line with his arms up. «The team worked very hard throughout the day. We were always well positioned and when we reached local laps, they placed me in second position to face the climbs. I thought: ‘Now I have to finish it for them.’ And I got it. “
The rhythm imposed by Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto in the final stretch stopped the attacks, and a reduced squad of about 25 runners came compact at the foot of Huy. Juliette Labous (FDJ-SUEZ) marked the pace on the final climb until he set aside 350 meters from the top, leaving Vollering’s relay, with Pietarse and Longo Borghini to Rueda. It was then that the young woman from Fenix-Deceuninck launched her final offensive to sign the greatest road victory of her promising multidisciplinary career.
“I tied where everyone says to attack”added Pietize with a smile. “This time I ignored my sports directors.”
Puck Pieterse
Tom Pidcock and his fight against the cold
“I was focused on keeping me hot because it was very cold”
For his part, Tom Pidcock managed to get on the podium in a race in which Tadej Pogacar crushed the rivals. The Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team corridor knew how to position himself intelligently and launched his decisive attack in the last meters of the wall, ensuring a historical podium for his team.
“I was focused on staying hot because it was very cold, but I wore many layers”Pidcock commented after the race. «Every year goes faster and costs more to take off clothes, but the team did a great job to have me warm and well placed. Especially Xabier Mikel, Mark, Nick and Marcel. Marcel is quite inexperienced, but he made it great. “
Tom Pidcock
“Every race I feel a little better, so this gives me a lot of confidence for the weekend.”
Pidcock faced the last ascent to Mur de Huy from an ideal position, among the top five when turning along the Mosa River. When Tadej Pogačar launched the attack that would end up giving him the victory, the British did not respond immediately, waiting for the right time to squeeze his forces in the most steep part of the final 1.2 km, with ramps that touch 20 %.
«He had his hands so cold that he couldn’t change his way. I was either with short or long development, and I had to decide. But I felt better than other times with rain and cold, which is a good sign »Pidcock added. “Every race I feel a little better, so this gives me a lot of confidence for the weekend.”
Tom Pidcock
