Paula Blasi has etched her name in history by becoming the first Spanish cyclist to win La Vuelta Femenina. After a dramatic final stage that finished atop the legendary Angliru climb, Petra Stiasny celebrated a stunning stage win, but the overall triumph belonged to Blasi, who outlasted Anna van der Breggen and secured the red jersey. Marion Bunel also earned a spot on the final podium.
The grand finale of the Vuelta Femenina delivered high drama as the race climbed the mythical Angliru. Although Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx – Protime) started the day in the red jersey and was the favorite for victory, numerous challengers stood ready. The Dutch rider defended her lead after a brilliant performance throughout the race.
A strong breakaway formed ahead of the decisive battle: Femke Markus (Team SD Worx – Protime), her sister Riejanne Markus (Lidl – Trek), and Liane Lippert (Movistar Team). Lippert, sitting less than four minutes behind in the general classification, became the virtual leader for much of the stage.
Paula Blasi – The Rise of a Star
The Alto del Tenebredo (5.5 km at 6.4%), with its summit just over 30 km from the finish, promised to be the first major selection point. The leading trio’s advantage began to shrink, and at the top, Liane Lippert crossed first with barely a minute’s lead. However, the three escapees held on and the peloton allowed them to regain some distance. They continued to lead the race at the foot of the Angliru.
The Ascent of El Angliru – A Monster Climb
The Angliru is a true beast: 12.1 km at an average gradient of 10.3%, with ramps exceeding 20%. The favorites quickly moved to the front. Franziska Koch (FDJ United – SUEZ), winner of Paris-Roubaix, set the pace to try to reel in Lippert, who had already dropped the Markus sisters. Meanwhile, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) began to struggle. The reigning Tour de France Femmes champion was not feeling good.
As the road steepened, Gaia Realini (Lidl – Trek) launched the first attack. The natural selection happened, leaving only the strongest at the front. Lippert was soon caught, and with five kilometers to go, fewer than ten riders remained in contention, led by the surprising Petra Stiasny (Human Powered Health). Behind her, only Anna van der Breggen, Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), and the French duo of Juliette Berthet (FDJ United – SUEZ) and Marion Bunel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – the latter then taking the lead – kept pace.
Second Career Victory After Amstel Gold Race
Bunel started to gap the others. Only Paula Blasi could follow her rhythm, while the rest fell back. The Spanish rider took turns at the front and seemed on course for the overall win, especially when she managed to drop Bunel, who was then caught by Stiasny. Anna van der Breggen had already faded definitively.
Unstoppable, Stiasny caught Blasi, and the two would fight for the stage victory. But the Swiss rider proved stronger, securing a mythical triumph on the Angliru summit – her second career win! Paula Blasi finished second on the stage, but the important result was elsewhere.
At just 23 years old and in her first Grand Tour, the Spanish rider claimed the Vuelta Femenina overall victory, just weeks after winning the Amstel Gold Race. The Catalan becomes the first female cyclist from Spain to win the Vuelta.
The runner-up in the general classification was Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen, while Frenchwoman Marion Bunel finished the race with the white jersey and third place overall.