Cat Ferguson, double world champion in the junior category, surprises again and wins Binche-Chimay-Binche

The women's peloton faced a 117-kilometer course between Chimay and Binche in this 1.1 race. As tradition dictates, the final stretch included a local circuit around the finish area, with slightly undulating terrain. Last year’s winner, Pfeiffer Georgi, did not start, leaving the question of who would succeed her.

In the early phase, the peloton remained largely intact until about sixty kilometers from the finish, when the real attacks began. Karoline Perekitko (Winspace) was the first to break away, signaling the start of the final.

The race became a true elimination race as the peloton thinned out significantly. About twenty kilometers from the finish, Uno-X Mobility stretched the peloton on an open road, but the wind wasn’t strong enough for a final break. Silke Smulders (Liv AlUla Jayco) made a brief attempt after the last lap of the finish line, but she was caught as well.

Fourteen kilometers from the finish, Victoire Berteau (Cofidis) attacked, with Dutch rider Jeanne Korevaar (Liv AlUla Jayco) on her wheel. The duo created a nice gap, and Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels) soon bridged the gap to them. Dijkstra's acceleration was too powerful for Korevaar, who had to drop back. However, Berteau and Dijkstra maintained a strong pace, making it difficult for the chasing (and significantly reduced) peloton to catch them.

With just eight hundred meters to go, the peloton, led by dsm-firmenich PostNL, caught Berteau and Dijkstra. Emma Norsgaard gave her Movistar teammate Ferguson a perfect leadout, but Kool was also well-positioned. Unfortunately for the Dutch rider, she suffered a mechanical problem as she began her sprint. Ferguson powered past everyone and claimed an impressive victory. Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Deceuninck) sprinted to second place, while Anniina Ahtosalo (Uno-X Mobility) took third.