It's an incredible season for the FDJ United Suez team, which continues to make its mark on the women's classics circuit. After the Tour of Flanders signed by Demi Vollering and the Paris-Roubaix by Franziska Koch, at the Fleche Brabanconne it was Celia Gery's turn. The very young French athlete claimed her first professional victory, beating Mischa Bredewold and Silvia Persico in a sprint finish. A solid performance from Letizia Paternoster, who crossed the line in eighth place.

THE RACE. An extremely high-caliber field for the first Ardennes race of the season, which celebrated its 11th edition. The riders pedaled from Lennik to Overijse over 125.7 km, tackling 19 climbs. In the finale, a grueling 19 km circuit was tackled with a triple passage over the finish line.

Much of the race was characterized by a breakaway of 10 riders: Alexandra Vilstad (EF Education Oatly), Nicole Steigenga (AG Insurance Soudal Team), Carina Schrempf (Fenix Premier Tech), Loes Adegeest (Lidl Trek), Talia Appleton and Ella Wyllie (Liv Alula Jayco), Daniela Hezinova (Team Picnic PostNL), Steffi Haberlin (Team SD Worx Protime), Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels Cycling Team). The group was closely controlled by UAE Team ADQ and FDJ United Suez.

Loes Adegeest was the first to make a decisive move at the front of the race, launching a solo attack. Only several kilometers later was she caught by her former breakaway companion Anneke Dijkstra. With 27 kilometers remaining, Anna Van Der Breggen attacked from the group and quickly managed to rejoin the leaders. Despite the lack of support from her two breakaway companions, the Dutch superstar managed to increase her advantage to over one minute on the peloton. There was never true agreement in the group, and several riders, including Silvia Persico, launched solo attempts.

The race seemed destined to be decided among the three leaders, but approximately 8 km from the finish, Anna Van der Breggen, after attacking one last time, sat on Loes Adegeest's wheel and in an instant the advantage collapsed. UAE Team ADQ and Liv Alula Jayco helped chase down the leaders, and the group came back together 1.4 km from the line just as the road began to climb again. The victory was decided in a reduced sprint in which Celia Gery prevailed over her rivals.

FINAL CLASSIFICATION

1 Gery Célia FDJ United-SUEZ 250 03:07:29

2 Bredewold Mischa Team SD Worx-Protime + 00

3 Persico Silvia UAE Team ADQ + 00

4 Moolman Pasio Ashleigh AG Insurance-Soudal Team + 00

5 Moors Fleur Lidl-Trek + 00

6 Couzens Millie Fenix-Premier Tech + 00

7 Jansen Eline VolkerWessels Cycling Team + 00

8 Paternoster Letizia Liv AlUla Jayco + 00

9 Blasi Paula UAE Team ADQ + 00

10 Kastelijn Yara Fenix-Premier Tech + 00