It is time for the primary Grand Tour of the season and a take a look at simply who throughout the girls’s peloton might step into the crimson jersey of the general race chief at La Vuelta Femenina.
The Spanish race, which has been upping the ante in latest seasons – remodeling from a one-day race right into a tour throughout eight levels – has misplaced its three-time champion Annemiek van Vleuten. The retirement of the rider who had beforehand dominated means a brand new group of potential victors will likely be clamouring to make a mark, notably these pressured to face on the decrease steps proper via the interval the place the race has included terrain that leans towards climbing energy.
Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime), as Tour de France Femmes victor and the rider who additionally got here near unseating Van Vleuten in Spain in 2023, is the obvious alternative as race favorite however given she hasn’t had the identical type on the run on this season will give her rivals a motive for hope.
Of course, these rivals will embrace a few sturdy choices from Lidl-Trek to hold on with the season’s pattern. The 2022 runner-up Elisa Longo Borghini is firing, having claimed three wins already this season, together with the Tour of Flanders, and has visited the rostrum seven instances. The Italian champion might even have Gaia Realini by her facet, delivering the staff energy card that Lidl-Trek appears to play so effectively. Canyon-SRAM, too look set to line up with a formidable mixture of riders, which might effectively assist an in-form Kasia Niewiadoma turn into more and more accustomed to the style of victory.
There are loads of different riders amongst those that are anticipated to line up – though confirmed begin lists are but to be launched – who might additionally problem for total victory on the April 28 to May 5 occasion.
Cyclingnews takes a better take a look at among the riders to look at because the battle for crimson unfolds from the staff trial via the Pyrenees to a showdown within the Sierras of Madrid.
Demi Vollering (Image credit score: Getty Images)
Demi Vollering might not have gone into final yr’s La Vuelta Femenina with a GC mindset, however she quickly acquired one after getting into the crimson jersey after the primary summit end on stage 4. After shedding the lead place on stage 6, partly on account of an ill-timed nature break and crosswinds, revenge was on her thoughts. She took it within the type of victory on the ultimate stage at Lagos de Covadonga, however whereas that effort might have meant the SD Worx clawed again a good portion of the hole within the last stage, she nonetheless fell 9 seconds wanting the final word prize, the crimson jersey. This version, nevertheless, is the possibility to alter that.
To add to that sense of unfinished enterprise is an early season, which has been peppered with podiums, however maybe not the step on them she hoped for. Vollering got here into La Vuelta Femenina on a tearing run final yr, having already swept up 5 victories for the yr, together with Strade Bianche and all the Ardennes Classics. This yr she is but to assert a victory, though that can seemingly change within the coming days.
The toughening of the route ought to play into Vollering’s palms, with the addition of a 3rd summit end certain to be a boon for the rider who received each in final yr’s version. Plus, though her fundamental rival could also be out of the image, there will likely be loads of obstacles alongside the best way to the stage 8 end line on the high of the Valdesquí, with a lot of previous rivals and rising abilities lining up and an enormous goal on Vollering’s again because the rider to beat.
Elisa Longo Borghini and Gaia Realini (Image credit score: Getty Images)
Lidl-Trek are as soon as once more lining up with an enviable mixture of expertise, new expertise and a track-record as a staff that is aware of tips on how to pull collectively to win races. The Ardennes might not have gone precisely to plan, however as they transfer from the icy chilly circumstances to the extra temperate climes of Spain, they’ve a staff that has each probability of slotting proper again into successful methods.
After a tricky 2023, a rejuvenated Elisa Longo Borghini is main the staff’s victory cost thus far in 2024, and La Vuelta Femenina gives the possibility to reignite the embers.
The Italian champion has stood on the general podium of each the Giro d’Italia Women and La Vuelta Femenina, with second in each 2020 and 2022 in Spain. This yr could possibly be her probability to lastly make it to that high step, particularly given the consistency she has proven thus far this season, the place she has not often deviated from the highest few spots on the outcomes sheet.
What’s extra, Longo Borghini is predicted to be lining up in a squad that additionally consists of the 22-year-old Gaia Realini. On her debut on the Vuelta final yr stood on the third step of the rostrum alongside Vollering and Van Vleuten after climbing up the ranks by delivering a formidable effort on the ultimate stage, taking second as the one rider who was even near having the ability to maintain tempo with Vollering.
The two-pronged assault from two former podium placers could also be simply what the staff must make it to that high step.
Last yr’s version of the Vuelta was the race the place Ricarda Bauernfeind gave discover of simply what she was able to, coming fifth total simply months into her first season within the Canyon-SRAM WorldTour staff after having made the leap from the event squad. The German rider then rapidly consolidated her place as a rider to look at by taking victory on stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes and ending ninth total. What’s extra, she has proven exceptional consistency in stage races, additionally discovering the highest ten final yr on the Tour de Romandie Féminin and Tour of Scandinavia.
The 24-year-old alone is worthy of word as a rider who could possibly be in with a podium probability in Spain, however this yr she may even be joined by Kasia Niewiadoma at La Vuelta Femenina, delivering a formidable pairing for the race to spearhead the Canyon-SRAM cost.
Niewiadoma is on high, clearly in type and contemporary from that a lot wanted win at La Flèche Wallonne Femmes. That supplied the very best of lead in indications for a rider that, even when issues aren’t operating so easily, would not appear to know tips on how to ship a nasty GC end result throughout the highest Spanish, French and Italian excursions. The rider from Poland has two podiums on the Tour de France Femmes, a second on the Giro d’Italia Women and 11 outcomes throughout the high seven total throughout her 12 participations on the three occasions. Niewiadoma would not have a podium on the Vuelta on her palmarès but however with a strong squad behind her – which additionally consists of Neve Bradbury as a climbing asset – no step appears out of attain for her at this yr’s eight-stage race.
Mavi Garcia (Image credit score: Getty Images)
Mavi García has been within the high ten of this race and the Tour de France Femmes and in addition discovered her means onto the rostrum of Giro d’Italia Women in 2022. There are additionally a lot of causes to suppose that the Spanish rider might stage up at this version of the race.
For a begin, the toughening parcours imply there are extra days suited to the 40-year-old who this yr made the shift to Liv-AlUla-Jayco with hopes of a resurgence. The UAE Tour was an excellent signal, with the rider coming third total.
Add to that, the rider mentioned she has “been feeling higher than I did final yr and, at this stage, I believe I can do effectively on this race.” That means a podium goal would not appear unreasonable, notably given the primary stage ought to assist her alongside the best way.
Last yr, the Australian-based squad maybe did not carry out in addition to they might have hoped within the staff time trial, with one in every of their anticipated powerhouses, Georgie Howe, crashing early, however in eighth they had been nonetheless two locations forward of García’s previous Liv Racing TeqFind staff and can hope for extra at this yr’s flat and quick time trial.
To begin the Vuelta with a bonus might go a good distance to assist the Garcia proceed into the mountains on the entrance foot.
In the final three years, Juliette Labous has been within the high ten in each version of La Vuelta Femenina, Giro d’Italia Women and Tour de France Femmes she has accomplished.
Last yr, she additionally lastly broke via to the rostrum in Italy, taking second behind a dominant Annemiek van Vleuten. With that step as much as a brand new stage on the Giro, she’ll now be aiming to do the identical on the Vuelta, the place she completed seventh final yr.
“I’ve finished a three-week altitude simulation camp during the last month, and I felt actually good in coaching and not too long ago within the races,” mentioned Labous. “We’ve labored loads to enhance my GC talents, so I wish to purpose for a podium, and we’ll do every thing we are able to to realize that objective.”
It will not be the one ambition for the staff, with Charlotte Kool on board for the sprints; nevertheless, 19-year-old Nienke Vinke, who completed second on the Tour Down Under in January, might show a useful ally on the climbs as she debuts on the race.
Riejanne Markus (Image credit score: Getty Images)
It’s onerous to not fade into the background at a squad that features Marianne Vos, however Riejanne Markus is a kind of riders who can sway the highlight once in a while.
The 29-year-old Dutch climber was really only one spot off the rostrum on the 2023 version of La Vuelta Femenina, knocked off the steps on the final stage by the spectacular efforts on the ultimate climb of Gaia Realini.
Markus is a rider who, like García, will likely be hoping to start out with a bonus given her staff took the highest spot on the opening staff time trial final yr.
The addition of one other climbing stage, nevertheless, might make it a bit tougher to chase the rostrum once more provided that whereas she might have fared moderately on the summit finishes prior to now, ending seventh on each final yr’s mountain high finales, however they nonetheless present a possibility for the pure climbers to leapfrog the Dutch rider.
AG Insurance-Soudal is heading into the Vuelta with an thrilling mixture of expertise and rising expertise this yr – Ashleigh Moolman Pasio has the confirmed Grand Tour report, whereas Sarah Gigante has the promise.
The 23-year-old Australian began the brand new season together with her new staff in perfect vogue, claiming the highest step of the general podium on the Tour Down Under with a spectacular victory on Willunga Hill.
Now it is lastly time to study the ropes of the longer stage races, with a long-awaited debut on the Spanish race after years the place damage, well being and circumstance have curtailed her European racing.
Learning along with a rider who has taken second within the girls’s Giro d’Italia twice and in addition final yr delivered sixth on the Tour de France Femmes in 2023 might present not solely a priceless stepping stone for Gigante but in addition a priceless ally for the seasoned South African.
Honorable mentions
Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) got here sixth in Spain final yr and with a powerful lead in, which included a fourth at La Flèche Wallonne, she seems to be to have each probability of delivering a strong exhibiting once more in 2024.
With defending champion Van Vleuten out, Liane Lippert – who got here fourth on the race in 2022 – is an apparent substitute contender for Movistar however her type is a large unknown given she is simply getting back from damage to start out the season. Also look out for teammate Olivia Baril who has a mounting record of stage race high ten finishes.
Ane Santesteban moved to Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi firstly of this season to assist construct the Spanish squad and it is onerous to transcend success on the house tour to get momentum rolling. The climber who completed sixth on the race in 2022 can have each incentive to go all out.
