Bredewold wins the title in Astorga with a devastating sprint; Kopecky maintains the lead

The Dutchwoman from SD Worx-Protime takes victory in the last flat stage of the Women's Vuelta, while rain and a fall mark the outcome.

The Women's Vuelta a España experienced a vibrant chapter today in its penultimate flat stage, with the Dutch Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx – Protime) taking victory in an exciting sprint in Astorga. Bredewold demonstrated her power in the final meters, overtaking her teammate Lotte Kopecky, who settled for second place but consolidated her lead in the general classification, wearing the coveted red jersey for another day. The Italian Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco) completed the podium, reaffirming the battle between the sprinters in this edition.

The stage, which covered 119.6 kilometers between León and Astorga, was presented as the last great opportunity for the sprinters to shine. With an eminently flat profile, the cyclists were preparing for a possible outcome to the mass sprint, although the wind and team strategies always threaten to break the monotony. The day was characterized by being one of the ones with the least accumulated unevenness in the history of the Spanish round, a perfect setting for fast knees.

The escape of the day was not long in coming. From the first stages of the race, a select group of cyclists sought adventure. Sara Martín (Movistar Team), Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa) and Marina Garau (Vini Fantini – BePink) were the first to step forward, soon joined by Aniek Van Alphen (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Alice Coutinho (Mayenne Monbana My Pie). Together, these five riders attempted to forge a significant lead over the peloton.

The breakaway managed to establish a difference of up to two minutes, fueling the hope of a victory from the breakaway. However, the SD Worx team, with Lotte Kopecky wearing the red jersey, soon took the reins of the peloton and increased the pace. The pressure from the Dutch team began to take its toll on the leaders, causing the first discards. Marina Garau was the first to give in, followed shortly after by Alice Coutinho, who despite not being able to keep up the pace, secured a valuable consolation.

Alice Coutinho, with her effort in the escape, managed to accumulate the necessary points to become leader of the mountain classification. The French cyclist added the six points in dispute in the two third category ports of the day: the Collada de Olleros de Alba and the Alto de la Garandilla. A consolation prize for a stage that promised strong emotions.

The resistance of Van Alphen, Sara Martín and Idoia Eraso remained firm for a while, managing to stabilize the difference at around 35 seconds. Despite a light drizzle that accompanied the cyclists in some sections, the peloton continued to close the gap inexorably. Finally, with only 8.7 kilometers to go before the finish line, the three cyclists in the breakaway were neutralized, leaving the excitement for the final kilometers.

The outcome of the stage was marked by an incident that altered the course of events. With just over a kilometer to go, a massive crash in the peloton, which affected cyclists such as the Dutch Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx), wreaked havoc and divided the main group. In the midst of the confusion and with the platoon disorganized, Mischa Bredewold knew how to read the situation perfectly. With admirable explosiveness, she launched her sprint and crossed the finish line in first position, securing a double for SD Worx-Protime, with Kopecky making sure to control the rest of the sprinters.

The best Spanish of the day was Lucía Ruiz (Movistar), who managed to stay in the leading group despite the fall. Her performance demonstrates the growing strength of Spanish women's cycling on the international scene.

The Women's Vuelta is now preparing for its most decisive chapters. This Friday, the 106.5 kilometer day will culminate with the demanding ascent to Les Praeres, a first-class mountain pass that will test the cyclists' strength. On Saturday, the Spanish round will come to an end with the queen of the stage, the legendary ascent to Angliru, a special category climb that will dictate the general classification after a 132-kilometre route dotted with three more climbs.

The expectation is maximum for the duels that will be fought on the tough Asturian slopes, where it will be decided who is crowned champion of this exciting edition of the Women's Vuelta a España.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won today's stage in the Women's Vuelta a España?
Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx – Protime) won the sprint in the stage arriving in Astorga.
Who leads the general classification of the Women's Vuelta?
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx – Protime) retains the red jersey for another day.
What was today's stage?
Today's stage was the last flat stage of the Women's Vuelta a España, with a route of 119.6 kilometers between León and Astorga.
Were there any major falls today?
Yes, a massive crash affected the peloton with just over a kilometer to go.
Which Spanish cyclist stood out today?
Lucía Ruiz (Movistar) was the best Spanish, arriving with the first group.
Who leads the mountain classification?
Alice Coutinho (Mayenne Monbana My Pie) secured the lead of the mountain.
What are the next decisive stages?
The decisive stages are this Friday with the finish in Les Praeres and Saturday with the ascent to Angliru.
What kind of ports will there be in the next stages?
There will be first-class ports such as Les Praeres and a special category port such as Angliru.
How many kilometers is the Angliru stage?
The stage ending in Angliru will be 132 kilometers long.
Where can I find more information and analysis about cycling?
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