Emirates News Agency WAM reported that Karlijn Swinkels powered to her second victory at the Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames. The Dutch rider outsprinted Elisa Balsamo of Lidl-Trek and Célia Gery of FDJ United-Suez in the final metres atop the Namur citadel. Her UAE Team L’IMAD squad celebrated the result as a continuation of the team’s strong performances in Belgian classics this season. Swinkels completed the undulating 127.4-kilometre route in three hours, 28 minutes and 27 seconds.
ProCyclingStats figures show this marked Swinkels’ second win at the event after her success in 2024, having placed second in the 2025 edition behind Shari Bossuyt. An early six-rider breakaway was reeled in on the penultimate climb, setting up a reduced bunch sprint among the favourites. Swinkels timed her effort perfectly in the last 100 metres to overhaul Balsamo, who had looked strong heading into the finale. Her teammate Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini crossed the line in ninth position.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign that included victory at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda earlier this year, according to reports from NOS. She was not selected for the Tour de France Femmes but has been named for the upcoming world championships in Montréal. Her consistent results have bolstered UAE Team L’IMAD’s standing in the UCI Women’s WorldTour rankings.
UAE Team L’IMAD, rebranded from UAE Team ADQ at the start of 2026, operates as a UCI Women’s WorldTeam with backing from a UAE sovereign wealth fund. The squad fields riders from multiple nationalities and has targeted growth in both competitive results and the promotion of women’s cycling. Team officials have highlighted the importance of such wins in elevating the profile of the sport in the region.
The Grand Prix de Wallonie Dames, a UCI 1.1 category event, attracted a competitive international field including squads such as Movistar Team, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi and Cofidis Women Team. Liane Lippert finished fourth for Movistar while Usoa Ostolaza Zabala placed fifth for Laboral Kutxa. The race route from Seraing to the steep climb of the citadel has become a key late-season test for classics specialists.
Data from the team website indicates UAE Team L’IMAD aims to inspire women globally through high-level competition and community initiatives. The squad maintains a focus on developing talent across 11 nationalities while competing at the highest level of the sport. Swinkels’ repeat success at the Wallonie event underscores the team’s growing influence in European road racing.
