Published on : 05/24/2026
At the end of a spectacular race—where she attacked, crashed, and then attacked again—Malwina Mul finished in the group contesting second place. Another clear sign that the young powerhouse continues to grow and learn at the highest level.
The fourth edition of the Antwerp Port Epic Ladies took place this Sunday. On the menu: 143 kilometers, gravel and dirt roads, and two loops before returning to Antwerp. Last year, terrible weather conditions produced unforgettable scenes at the finish, with the race ending in a sprint among a reduced group of around ten riders. Valentine Fortin had finished 7th.
This year, the atmosphere was completely different: gone were the rain and grey skies, replaced by sunshine… and clouds of dust. Sector after sector, the pace remained relentless. The riders held firm, and Malwina Mul found herself at the front in a three-rider move. Together, they built an advantage of around thirty seconds over the group of favorites.
When Femke Markus punctured, only Malwina and Schweinberger remained out front to drive the race forward as a duo. Our Polish rouleur was eventually caught with 43 kilometers to go, leaving a leading group of around twenty riders.
What followed over the next ten kilometers was complete chaos. Malwina attacked again and returned to the front of the race. Barely caught, she then slid out in a corner. Crash, mechanical issues, derailment. Yet after a sustained effort, the 21-year-old fought her way back to the lead group… only to attack again, this time alongside seven other riders.
Femke Markus eventually managed to gain a small advantage and was never seen again. Behind, hesitation allowed a chasing group of around ten riders to bridge across to the first chase group. Malwina Mul, generous in her effort, kept trying to make the difference. On the final sectors or back on the road, she looked unstoppable.
Around fifteen riders remained to battle for the podium in the finishing straight. After unclipping during the sprint, Malwina ultimately crossed the line in 13th place, letting her frustration show at the finish. But beyond the result, her panache and attacking spirit stood out—qualities that promise exciting things ahead.
Reaction from sports director Gaëtan Lemoine:
“An epic race—it truly lived up to its name! The plan was quite simple: we wanted to enter the first sectors in good position, and the girls executed that perfectly. In the finale, we had some bad luck with several of our riders.
The big satisfaction of the day is Malwina. She rode an incredible race and was clearly among the strongest. In this kind of event, it’s all about the legs, and today we saw her attacking several times and staying in contact with the very best. She wasn’t rewarded at the finish, and the crash certainly didn’t help either.
The key moment came when she got away with Schweinberger and Markus with 50 kilometers to go. That group could have gone a very long way. Markus’ puncture completely changed the race again. I take my hat off to Malwina for such a strong ride, and I hope she—and the whole group—will soon be rewarded for their efforts.”