Maiden top-ten finish for Spain since 2009

Spanish allrounder on the attack towards Huy, takes yet another step forward in her international progression at one of toughest races in UCI Women's WorldTour.

The first ever winner in the Movistar Team’s history has shown again on Wednesday that she deserves a place within the top competitors in her sport. Mavi García has claimed a superb 10th place in the Flèche Wallonne, one of the most demanding classics in the UCI Women’s WorldTour calendar with its double loop around the côtes of Ereffe, Cherave and the iconic Mur de Huy.

The Mallorca native claimed her privileged position at the finish on the attack, jumping off the front of the bunch at a non-categorized hill after the final Ereffe, in pursuit of a dangerous, four-woman attempt including Spratt (MTS), Guarnier (DLT), Ferrand-Prevot (CSR) and Ensing (ALE). Despite being chased down again by the favourites’ strong pace at Cherave, Mavi -joined until then by a strong Blue squad, with Llamas and Jasinska also part of the 30-rider pursuit following Huy- kept energy enough to cope with the hellish, closing 1.3 kilometers uphill.

The tenth place notched up by Mavi at the finish, 28″ behind Anna Van der Breggen (DLT), marks the best result for a Spanish rider since 2009 and the second top-ten finish in a WWT race for the Jorge Sanz-led squad, after Jasinska’s 6th spot in the Tour of Flanders. The only negative note from a great day for the Movistar Team was a crash by Llamas herself before the final circuit, hurting his knee but still able to complete the race.