Suffering in her debut participation at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, Kim Le Court (AG Insurance Soudal) not only clawed her way back to the front group but delivered a huge victory for the ninth edition of the race. The Mauritius champion outsprinted the two favourites Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), to become the first African rider to win La Doyenne.
Coming from a mountain bike background, Le Court, who made her name last year by winning a stage of the Giro d’Italia, had been dropped on the Roche-aux-Faucons climb. She was able to bridge the gap to Vollering, Pieterse, and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) though Kopecky soon lost contact, leaving the trio to chase down lone attacker Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) with nine kilometres to go.
‘I have no words, I suffered a little today with my breathing. I couldn’t breathe, I was distanced several times, but I never gave up. My sports director in the earpiece as well as all my teammates gave me so much courage and I came back each time,” Le Court said. “Julie Van de Velde’s effort, to put me back in the peloton. Really everyone played a big role, it’s proof of really never give up.”
“I saw that I had the legs in Roche-aux-Faucons and I took my rhythm from the bottom. I had been dropped from the beginning but I just kept my rhythm and I had confidence in myself and I told myself not to push too much at the beginning and to save a little for the end and I came back strong at the end and I was able to bridge the gap to Demi, Puck and Lotte.
“Of course, there was an effort to bridge to Cedrine first, she’s such a good rider and also downhills, I almost died 5 times.”
The four riders stayed together, preparing for the final sprint as they flew to the finish line on Quai des Ardennes.
“My legs were starting to cramp a little in the last 5 kilometres but my DS Jolien [D’Hoore] told me to start the sprint on Demi if we arrive in a group with her, and that’s what I did. I cramped too when I started to sprint, but I didn’t give up, I can’t believe it. It’s crazy.”
The 29-year-old, who had finished top 6 in four Spring Classics, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Milan-San Remo, Ronde van Vlaanderen and Amstel Gold, had circled Liège-Bastogne-Liège as a main target.
“I saw a Mauritius flag on the course today, and I’m so proud and I’m so happy I could finally give a win. It’s been always so close this whole season, and I’ve actually aimed for Liège this whole season.”