The second half of April has been a whirlwind for Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), 23, who came into the Ardennes Classics with no big expectations but came away with so much more.

The Spanish talent claimed a solo victory at the Amstel Gold Race despite originally not even being on the startlist, stood on the Flèche Wallonne podium, and finished it off with a fifth place in Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a result that left her feeling disappointed she could not follow veteran rider Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) and race for second place.

“You always want one more. After La Roche[-aux-Faucons], I felt I was super close to getting to the three girls with Van der Breggen. I just missed the last 20 seconds where she got to the group, and I was so mad.…