Marlen Reusser succeeds Elisa Longo Borghini in the Dwars door Vlaanderen honours list. The Swiss rider from Movistar, returning to racing after a crash suffered at the UAE Tour, has claimed her thirty-fifth career victory on the Waregem finish line, beating Demi Vollering from FDJ United - SUEZ in a sprint, with whom she attacked in the final stages of the race. In third place came a courageous Lieke Nooijen, third after a remarkable solo comeback in the final kilometre. Fourth position went to Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto), who controlled the chasing group that finished 7" behind the winner.

THE RACE - The first half of the race was animated by: Cristina Tonetti and Catalina Soto from Laboral Kutxa; Mia Gjertsen, Norwegian rider from Uno-X Mobility; Irish champion Mia Griffin from Team Picnic PostNL; French riders from Ma Petite Entreprise Alison Avoine and Célia Le Mouel and Natalie Quinn, American rider from Mayenne Monbana My Pie.

These attackers remained in command until 44 kilometres from the finish, just before Eikenberg.

On that cobbled section, accelerating, Demi Vollering (FDJ United – SUEZ), Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance - Soudal Team), Fleur Moors (Lidl – Trek) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) made their move, only to be caught after a few kilometres by a group of around fifteen women including Elisa Longo Borghini, Eleonora Gasparrini, Silvia Persico, Karlijn Swinkels, Mischa Bredewold, Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime), Elise Chabbey (FDJ United – SUEZ), Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco), Kim Le Court (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) and Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team).

The Swiss rider, world time trial champion, accelerated about twenty kilometres from the finish and was almost immediately caught by Demi Vollering. At 15 kilometres from the finish, the leading pair had an advantage of 12" over the chasing group – reduced by some punctures – led by Italian champion Longo Borghini and her teammates.

In the final five kilometres, the leading duo had a comfortable advantage over the increasingly smaller group of chasers. In the final metres, the two leaders were somewhat surprised by the arrival of Nooijen and launched their sprint, which rewarded Reusser.

FINISHING ORDER

1 Reusser Marlen Movistar Team 03:09:12

2 Vollering Demi FDJ United - SUEZ ,,

3 Nooijen Lieke Team Visma | Lease a Bike ,,

4 Bäckstedt Zoe CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto 00:07

5 Jansen Eline VolkerWessels Cycling Team ,,

6 Ferguson Cat Movistar Team ,,

7 Kool Charlotte Fenix-Premier Tech ,,

8 Koch Franziska FDJ United - SUEZ ,,

9 Swinkels Karlijn UAE Team ADQ ,,

10 de Jong Thalita Human Powered Health ,,

Updates to follow