Mischa Bredewold claims victory in Stage 5 of the Spanish tour.
/ LA VUELTA
After several stages winding through Galicia and León with a repetitive profile—mostly flat terrain leading to sprint finishes and little opportunity for genuine attacks among the stars of the Spanish race—the women’s La Vuelta finally reaches the mountains this Friday. Among the top names to watch is Catalonia’s Paula Blasi.
So far, the race has followed a predictable script: a compact peloton neutralizes every breakaway that manages to get a few kilometers ahead before the finish line. Thursday’s escape featured Spain’s champion Sara Martín (Movistar) and Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa), but both knew their chances of staying clear to the finish in Astorga were minimal.
In future editions, it would be wise to include more varied terrain, especially since women’s tours typically last only 7 or 8 stages, making every meter count. Sponsorship and host cities that are eager to support women’s cycling play a key role, but the challenge should not deter organizers from seeking out more exciting routes. La Vuelta, which established its women’s race from scratch in 2023, has already shown commitment to growing the sport.
**Dutch Dominance**
As expected, the day unfolded like a low-tension movie, with the bunch sprint inevitable. SD Worx controlled the finale to protect Lotte Kopecky’s overall lead—though the Belgian moved from side to side in the mass finish. The team’s plan worked, with Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold taking the stage win. It was a bit surprising that no rider from the Netherlands had won a stage until now, given the country’s usual numerical dominance in women’s cycling.
Now, the race will finally heat up on Friday with the first of two stages in Asturias. There’s a real climb with gradient—no easy drafting or teammate support. Riders will have to dig deep, both for stage glory and for a good position in the general classification, because Les Praeres doesn’t allow any hiding. The climb forces every rider to show their true form.
Les Praeres brings back memories of the men’s 2018 edition, when Simon Yates reclaimed the race lead with a solo victory and held it all the way to Madrid.
Blasi, currently 10th overall, and her rivals will face a daunting challenge. Though the climb is only 3.7 kilometers long, the stats are breath‑taking: an average gradient of 13.7%, a maximum of 27%, and two sections at 23% and 22%. This is a tough warm‑up before Saturday’s finish atop the legendary Angliru.
