Australian cycling star Grace Brown wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic ahead of Paris Olympics

Australian cycling star Grace Brown has made history by claiming the biggest win of her career at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic, just months before the Paris Olympics. The 31-year-old Melbourne rider, already a medal favorite for the individual time trial in Paris, showcased her versatility by winning the prestigious Belgian race, becoming the first Australian woman to do so.

Brown’s victory at Liege-Bastogne-Liege solidifies her status as a threat in the Olympic road race as well. With a strong finish in a field of elite riders, including Italian ace Elisa Longo Borghini and Dutch defending champion Demi Vollering, Brown proved her strength and determination on the challenging course.

Despite a near-crash moment with 7km to go, Brown managed to stay composed and ultimately outsprinted her competitors to cross the finish line first. Her win comes after a series of strong performances, including a fourth-place finish in the time trial at the Tokyo Olympics and multiple podium finishes at world championships.

In a post-race Instagram message, Brown expressed her emotions, saying, “There’s something special about this race that brings out the best in me. I really can’t describe how big this feels right now!! It’s been a difficult spring, but today puts it all behind.”

With Australian road cycling looking strong heading into the Paris Olympics, Brown’s victory adds to the country’s growing success in the sport. Alongside fellow Australian riders like Michael Matthews, who has also had impressive performances in recent races, Brown’s win at Liege-Bastogne-Liege signals a bright future for Australian cycling on the international stage.