La Flèche Wallonne Femmes 2021: The Route

Wednesday 21 April – La Flèche Wallonne for women serves a 126.5 kilometres route with seven intermediate climbs before a top finish at the steep Wall of Huy.

La Flèche Wallonne Femmes features two laps south of Huy. First a big one of 95 kilometres, then a smaller one of 31.5 kilometres.

The race opens on gently undulating terrain, only to kick it up a notch after 50 kilometres with the appearance of the Côte de Thon. Via the Côte de Groyme, Côte de Haut-Bois and Côte de Gives the riders enter the finishing circuit after 87 kilometres. Another 12 kilometres later they reach the finish line at the Wall of Huy for the first time.

No downhill after the Wall, but the route continues on the flat until a short drop leads onto the Côte d’Ereffe, which is 2.1 kilometres long at an average gradient of 5%. The first 1.5 kilometres are steepest.

With some 10 kilometres remaining the Côte de chemin des Gueuses appears. Again, the steepest part lies at the bottom. The chemin des Gueuses climb totals 1.8 kilometres and the average gradient sits at 6.5%.

A 5 kilometres descent leads into Huy and the riders wind their way to the foot of the Wall of Huy. The 1.3 kilometres drag at 9.6% opens relatively easy, but after 400 metres the gradient kicks up to more than 10%, only to drop to 6% on the 100 metres home straight.

World and Olympic Champion Anna van der Breggen is the Queen of La Flèche Wallonne. She won the last six editions of the race and is record holder. In the past – 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013 -, Marianne Vos won the race five times.

Other interesting reads: results and start list 2021 La Flèche Wallonne Femmes.