There have been plenty of GC skirmishes by the primary half of La Vuelta Femenina however the summit end on stage 5 was the primary actual check of the climbing leg and on the Rapatan Fort within the Pyrenean city of Jaca the flames of hope for Demi Vollering’s rivals received a critical dousing.
There should be an ember burning for Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), who’s the closest rival to the SD Worx-Protime rider on the general, at 31 seconds, however it seems like there’s each probability that the purple jersey of the race chief may have discovered its residence for 2024. Now that Vollering has damaged her victory drought along with her first high step of the season, it could effectively proceed on right into a roll.
“I felt very sturdy this entire 12 months. I used to be on the rostrum a number of occasions, however victory remained out,” mentioned Vollering in a crew media assertion. “It took a very long time this 12 months for me to win. I’m glad that I used to be capable of present it right here now.”
Heading into La Vuelta Femenina, Vollering was the apparent favorite, given she was second to Van Vleuten final 12 months – shedding purple on the second final stage after an ill-timed nature break – and was additionally the Tour de France Femmes victor in 2023. Though her lack of a win by the early a part of the season, though there have been many podiums, meant the door nonetheless appeared open for plenty of potential challengers. They included Lidl-Trek, with Longo Borghini and Gaia Realini, Canyon-SRAM’s duo of Kasia Niewiadoma and Ricarda Bauernfeind, Juliette Labous (dsm firmenich-Post NL), Mavi García (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) and Riejanne Markus (Jumbo-Visma).
However, Vollering regarded each bit the dominant participant as she assuredly took management on the comparatively brief class 2 remaining climb of stage 5. She gained a strong hole on the very first summit end, accelerating away from Yara Kastelijn (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and important GC rival Longo Borghini, within the remaining levels of the ascent.
“That plan labored effectively,” mentioned Vollering. “Winning La Vuelta Femenina is my massive aim and I’m glad to have already got this lovely purple chief’s jersey round my shoulders.”
“I hope we will make it just a few extra good days right here with the crew and defend my place. The incontrovertible fact that I’m already 31 seconds forward of Elisa Longo Borghini is an efficient start line.”
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Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) on the rostrum in purple after stage 5 (Image credit score: Getty Images)
From opening salvos to decisive lengthy climbs
After a robust Team Time Trial on the opening stage, with SD Worx-Protime taking second to Lidl-Trek, Vollering already had a small benefit on many rivals after which opened up a considerable one on others within the crosswinds of stage 4, however Thursday delivered the uphill end she actually wanted to take management.
The Dutch rider shot up six spots within the total to prime place as she crossed the road 28 seconds forward of Kastelijn and the Italian champion – including a ten second win bonus as effectively. That left solely two riders inside a minute of her on GC, first Longo Borghini after which, at 53 seconds, Riejanne Markus (Jumbo Visma), who completed fourth total on the race final 12 months.
Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Cannondale), Labous, SD Worx-Protime teammates Marlen Reusser and Niamh Fisher Black and Canyon-SRAM’s Niewiadoma are the one different riders inside two minutes of Vollering on the overall classification. That means Vollering not solely seems to be the strongest rider but in addition has the strongest crew place, with the Dutch squad holding 3 of the highest seven spots.
Lidl-Trek and Canyon-SRAM had each regarded effectively positioned to rival SD Worx-Protime on the run into the race. A Flèche Wallonne profitable Niewiadoma was anticipated to not solely have final 12 months’s fifth-placed Bauernfeind by her aspect close to the highest of the outcomes desk but in addition gifted younger climber Neve Bradbury. The Australian, nevertheless was knocked out by sickness earlier than the racing even started whereas Bauernfeind is twelfth total after getting caught on the improper aspect of the hole on stage 4. Niewiadoma is eighth total as whereas she received by stage 4 unscathed she then struggled on the ultimate climb of stage 5 and completed sixteenth after feeling the impression of latest sickness.
Lidl-Trek additionally suffered a blow on stage 5, when Realini, co-leader with Longo Borghini, had a nasty fall on the final descent and ended any hope of the crew utilizing a two-pronged GC assault towards Vollering when she limped throughout the road greater than seven minutes down in 53rd place.
Still, there are two summit finishes left, each class one and each longer than Thursday’s remaining effort, which opens up the chance to carve out substantial time gaps. The first is on Friday’s 132.1km stage ending on the La Laguna Negra after which there’s Sunday’s race finale to Valdesquí.
It is terrain that additionally fits Vollering, as evidenced by her crushing victory within the remaining stage of La Vuelta Femenina final 12 months, and her rivals might not have the chances of their favour however they’re nonetheless prone to do the whole lot they will to forestall it being a procession to the end.
“The lengthy climbs within the subsequent days will likely be decisive, and also you interpret the longer climbs otherwise,” mentioned Longo Borghini after stage 5. “On a 3.5km climb like in the present day, you simply must go full fuel, in the meantime on a protracted climb you must tempo your self, which is one thing that fits me higher.”
