The stage racing season is underway throughout Spain, and with the conclusion of La Vuelta Femenina, strikes into the back-to-back Itzulia Women, from May 10-12, and Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, from May 16-19.
If the Vuelta was any indication biking followers are in for 3 days of action-packed racing. Itzulia Women is ready to start in with a 140km race from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Elgoibar that can set the tone for the general classification with its punchy parcours.
However, because the race continues with stage 2’s hilly 104km race in Basauri after which finale queen stage 3 in Donostia, the overall classification might go to any variety of all-rounders among the many peloton.
Reusser will as soon as once more be a favorite, even after recovering and returning to racing following a crash on the Tour of Flanders, although she’ll face a substantial problem in her quest to defend the title. Cyclingnews highlights the important thing riders to look at on the three-day Itzulia Women.
SD Worx-Protime received two consecutive Itzulia Women titles, with Demi Vollering in 2022 and Marlen Reusser in 2023, and now the purpose is to make it three.
The group arrives at Itzulia Women contemporary off claiming the general at La Vuelta Femenina. It was Demi Vollering’s first victory of the season, a profitable peak timed to perfection, and she’s going to undoubtedly carry that prime type into the subsequent two stage races, aiming for phases and a prime place within the general classifications.
However, SD Worx-Protime have proven that they don’t have to depend on one rider in an effort to achieve success in the case of each one-day and stage racing, and like ultimately yr’s Itzulia Women, Marlen Reusser will probably be a key rider to look at as she goals to defend her general title.
The punchy terrain fits each Vollering and Reusser, however Reusser has the flexibility to make use of her time trial energy in strategic breakaways and that lends properly to persistently gaining time within the general classification every day.
Reusser has had a turbulent spring, however she has recovered from sickness and the accidents sustained in a crash on the Tour of Flanders, which included fractures to her jaw, each ear canals and several other damaged tooth.
She mentioned that she is able to attempt for a second consecutive victory, which might be a part of a stepping stone to larger objectives on the Tour de Suisse and Giro d’Italia Women.
Pauliena Rooijakkers will lead the Fenix-Deceuninck group at Itzulia Women. She has had expertise racing for the overall classification on the occasion after ending second general within the 2022 version behind Demi Vollering.
Fenix-Deceuninck has proven promising type this spring, particularly on the current La Vuelta Femenina, the place Yara Kastelijn secured two podium finishes and eighth general, whereas Rooijakkers’ consistency throughout the ultimate 4 phases led to ninth place general.
Kastelijn is not racing at Itzulia Women, which suggests the group will probably be solely centered on stage alternatives and an general classification outcome with Rooijakkers.
The shorter and punchier climbs at Itzulia Women, in comparison with the Vuelta, would possibly higher go well with Rooijakkers, who may be among the many strongest within the finals however may be a breakaway card for Fenix-Deceuninck.
Kasia Niewiadoma received the world title on the Gravel World Championships final fall after which carried her profitable spirit into La Flèche Wallonne, the place she triumphed atop the Mur de Huy.
It marked her first street race victory since 2019 and appeared to bode properly for the upcoming stage racing season. While she went into La Vuelta Femenina as a significant contender, the group made the choice to tug her out of the race in order that she might recuperate from a lingering sickness from the Ardennes Classics.
Back in good well being, Niewiadoma will need to proceed her prime type within the subsequent set of shorter phases races at Itzulia Women and Vuelta a Burgos. These races are additionally nice preparation for potential summer time targets on the Giro d’Italia Women and Tour de France Femmes.
Canyon-SRAM even have a contender in Ricarda Bauernfeind, who has proven promising outcomes on the UAE Tour Women (tenth), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (ninth) and La Vuelta Femenina (sixth). In reality, in Niewiadoma’s absence on the Vuelta, Bauernfeind stepped as much as the GC plate within the mountain phases, the place she was sixth at Alto del Fuerte Rapitán and La Laguna Negra and fifth at Valdesquí. Comunidad de Madrid.
A former stage winner on the Tour de France Femmes, Bauernfeind has proven that she will deal with the pressures of top-tier racing as a contender in each phases and basic classification. What’s extra, if Neve Bradbury is again on observe following the sickness that took her out of La Vuelta Femenina the group have yet one more rider that might problem proper on the prime of the general outcomes desk.
Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) has at all times been a powerful climber and top-10 general contender, however she has improved her recreation this spring with a stage win and fifth general at La Vuelta Femenina.
A former French nationwide champion in 2021, Muzic took her first huge victory in 2022 on the Giro d’Italia and has steadily improved with podium finishes in phases on the Tour de France, Tour de Suisse and second general at Vuelta a Burgos.
Her current victory atop La Laguna Negra was all of the extra spectacular as she matched Demi Vollering on the ascent after which outsprinted the Dutch Champion throughout the end line, exhibiting each stamina on the climbs, strategic nous and velocity on the end.
FDJ-SUEZ additionally line up with Marta Cavalli, who had a late begin to the season as a result of a pelvis harm sustained whereas coaching, and he or she not too long ago spent a number of weeks coaching at altitude as a substitute of racing the Spring Classics.
Cavalli was compelled to desert the Vuelta following a crash on stage 2, but when she is recovered and 100% wholesome, she might play a job within the group’s general success at Itzulia Women.
Spanish champion Mavi García was recognised on the rostrum as the highest rider from her nation within the remaining classification at La Vuelta Femenina.
Although she may be pleased with that achievement, the Liv AlUla Jayco all-rounder as searching for greater than twentieth general and can undoubtedly need to enhance on that efficiency at each Itzulia Women and Vuelta a Burgos.
When she is in peak type, Garcia is a significant contender for the general classification at any of the Grand Tours. However, Itzulia Women may be extra inherently her fashion of racing, given its shorter and steeper climbs, which lend properly to the highly effective assaults and breakaways that she has develop into so well-known for during the last 5 years.
Garcia is an opportunistic rider, so look ahead to her to provoke breakaways on the most difficult a part of every stage when the peloton is struggling at its worst. She additionally is not afraid to launch 50+ km assaults and is greater than able to being among the many choice within the finals.
Shirin van Anrooij loved a powerful Spring Classics marketing campaign that noticed her persistently play a job within the finals of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, and Brabantse Pijl.
Many of these efforts have been well-coordinated group techniques alongside Tour of Flanders winner Elisa Longo Borghini, who shouldn’t be competing at Itzulia Women. The Italian Champion not too long ago completed third general at La Vuelta Femenina however is now taking a well-deserved relaxation, so Van Anrooij will take up the GC mantle on the three-day race.
The Dutch rider not too long ago completed third on the Navarra Women’s Elite Classic, a troublesome one-day race in Spain. She fashioned a part of a choose chase group behind solo winner Hannah Ludwig (Cofidis).
Van Anrooij is clearly in good type after recovering from the Spring Classics, and look ahead to the competition phases and the general classification at Itzulia.