The Spanish excursions proceed, and SD Worx-Protime has thus far dominated the highest step, however Vuelta a Burgos Féminas provides the opposite groups a final probability to show the tables earlier than the Women’s WorldTour leaves the nation for a two-race cease over in Great Britain.
The four-day race from May 16-19 follows on from La Vuelta Femenina, received by Demi Vollering and Itzulia Women, the place the SD Worx Protime rider did it once more. The race will ship riders again into one other battle for stage victories and total honours, with the El Alto de Rozavientos 15km from the ultimate end line, leaving the alternatives for the GC riders open proper till the tip.
Vollering clinched the general lead and victory on the final stage final 12 months, with Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal) finishing the rostrum.
Confirmed begin lists aren’t in but however there isn’t a doubt that, whoever else is lining up, {that a} returning Vollering is the clear favorite to defend for SD Worx-Protime. The Dutchwoman seems laborious to beat now that she has hit her successful type, however lots will strive.
Cyclingnews runs the ruler over the potential contenders forward of Thursday’s four-stage Women’s WorldTour race.
Demi Vollering could have entered La Vuelta Femenina with none wins for the season although she definitely hit her stride on the Spanish Grand Tour. Once she stepped into crimson on stage 5, the primary summit end of the race, victory simply stored getting wanting an increasing number of inevitable given her assured efficiency at each essential level. What’s extra, Itzulia Women did not present any signal that she was fading, with the rider delivering a strong efficiency on the ultimate stage, which additionally secured her the general victory.
The SD Worx-Protime rider has the outcomes this 12 months on her aspect, being two for 2 within the Spanish excursions this month and final as nicely. Vollering claimed the general at Vuelta a Burgos final 12 months and two phases on the way in which, what’s extra it was a clear sweep of the phases for the workforce with Lorena Wiebes successful the opposite two.
In the 2022 and 2021 editions, the Dutch rider got here third total, standing on the rostrum with Anna van der Breggen on her debut on the race in 2021. The workforce does not look any much less formidable this 12 months. After all, Mischa Bredewold swept up the primary two phases at Itzulia Women earlier than Vollering completed it off on stage 3.
Last 12 months, 22-year-old Shirin van Anrooij stepped as much as the second spot on the rostrum behind Vollering, additionally claiming the youth jersey because of this. It was her first time on the general podium of a Women’s WorldTour stage race, and this 12 months may supply her a possibility to search out her method again once more.
Following a break after the Ardennes Classics, the Lidl-Trek rider has used Navarra, the place she got here third, and Itzulia to construct towards Burgos. The rider, who additionally races cyclocross, could not have had the outcomes she hoped for within the April block of Women’s WorldTour racing, however standing on the rostrum with successful teammate Elisa Longo Borghini on the Tour of Flanders in March after a second at Dwars door Vlaanderen and high fives at each Strade Bianche and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad means it hasn’t precisely been a shabby begin to the season.
Vuelta a Burgos might be simply the place it shifts up one other gear.
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig has been sitting on the sidelines since Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after fracturing her sacrum in a crash however has confirmed through social media that she is going to as soon as once more be on the beginning line at Vuelta a Burgos Feminas.
The 28-year-old first dipped her toe in with a help function at Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria on Tuesday earlier than taking to the beginning in Villagonzalo Pedernales. After almost two months with out pinning a quantity on her type, in fact, remains to be an unknown. Still, whereas she could not have had time to work to a peak she is a rider to not be discounted.
The FDJ-SUEZ rider was eleventh total final 12 months however fifth and sixth the earlier two editions, so hasn’t been that removed from the rostrum. Her workforce has made a mark in Spain with Évita Muzic claiming a stage and ending fifth total at La Vuelta Femenina.
Muzic has additionally proven high type with fourth at Flèche Wallonne, eleventh total at Itzulia Women and second on the Durango-Durango Emakumeen Saria. The Frenchwoman was second total at Vuelta a Burgos in 2022 and can undoubtedly use her expertise to assist the workforce earn one other total podium.
Silvia Persico can also be getting into the Spanish stage racing fray at Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, having spent the early a part of this month at a few one-day races in France and discovering success on the Grand Prix du Morbihan Femmes.
The rider has completed within the high ten of the race prior to now two editions and will simply have the best versatile talent set to excel on the lumpy however not excessive climbing terrain. The workforce, too, may do with some Women’s WorldTour success, having not taken a top-tier victory but this season.
The Italian, who’s on the build-up to her dwelling Grand Tour, was on the rostrum of the ultimate stage of the race final 12 months. She could not be capable to problem the pure climbers like Vollering on a troublesome summit end, however the downhill run after the climb may result in a unique final result.
Canyon-SRAM had getting into the Spanish block of stage racing with some of the formidable mixtures of riders, beginning with La Vuelta Femenina, however illness tore by the workforce, leaving some out and others battling by.
That has meant they have been on the again foot, fielding a workforce brief on numbers at each the Grand Tour and Itzulia, however maybe with some restoration time and a few brisker legs – significantly Elise Chabbey, who was firing when she joined that fray at Itzulia to say fifth total – Vuelta a Burgos may ship a a lot smoother path.
Last 12 months, the workforce was simply off the general podium in fourth with Chloe Dygert, who is not anticipated to line up this 12 months, although, after Itzulia, Chabbey is wanting like a powerful possibility, significantly because it additionally follows a fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Then there’s Neve Bradbury, who did not make it to the beginning line of La Vuelta Femenina due to sickness. All early season indications, nonetheless, have been that the Australian rider was heading to a brand new degree this 12 months – with second total at UAE Tour Women amongst her robust early outcomes. Vuelta a Burgos might be an opportunity to renew the upward trajectory.