Kristen Faulkner attacks a leading group and wins stage 4 of Le Vuelta Femenina
The French rider of FDJ Suez was the best on the final climb overtaking a strong Demi Vollering in the final 50meters of the stage and wins the 6th stage in La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es. Demi Vollering who had an amazing final climb finished second behind the Muzic while another strong ride from Yara Kastelijn securing third place just seconds behind. Despite not winning the stage, Vollering retained her leadership in the general classification.
The stage commenced in Tarazona and immediately presented the peloton with an uphill challenge. Although the initial 30 kilometers were never overly steep, they were sufficiently demanding to set the stage for the day’s racing. This was followed by a lengthy flat section leading up to the final challenge of the day, the climb to La Laguna Negra, measuring 6.5 km at a gradient of 6.7%. This was anticipated as a crucial moment for the GC contenders to make significant moves.
How the Race unfolded
The stage was marked by numerous early attacks and strategic moves. Due to the high pace of the peloton all the attacks were neutralized by the bunch. The strong winds also didn’t help attackers to form a breakaway.
Even a large group of 12 riders, including Mischa Bredewold and Brodie Chapman, rider who are notorious for fast pacing didn’t get a change to stay ahead of the peloton but finally after 60km of racing a break seemed to have formed with success. Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels), Claudia San Justo (Eneicat-CM Team), Aurela Nerlo (Winspace) and Fauve Bastiaenssen (Lotto-dstny Ladies). They enjoy a 1’30” advantage at kilometer 61.
When Team SDWorx-Protime take control of the peloton, the +3 minute 50 second lead quickly comes down and when the peloton gets closer to the intermediate sprint the bunch is picking up speed and the breakaway is caught just ahead of the sprint where Marianne Vos secures her green points jersey winning the intermediate sprint.
Closing in on the final climb to Vinuesa’s Laguna Negra (cat 1, km 132,1) is 6,5-kilometre-long, with a 6,8% average gradient but the final part of the climb has gradients up to 11%!
At the start of the climb Grace Brown initially accelerating, significantly thinning out the group. The Australian rider had a long pull and saw big names like Olivia Baril, Liane Lippert, Erica Magnaldi and Mavi Garcia being dropped. The FDJ Suze rider took control of the climb for 4 kilometers of climbing before she cooked herself and let go.
As the climb progressed, Demi Vollering took over, increasing the pace and causing further selections among the favorites. Elisa Longo Borghini, Yara Kastelijn and Ricarda Bauernfeind all fighting for the wheel of Vollering. It was on a less steep section that Marlen Reusser made a brief attempt to dictate the pace, soon followed by a sharp attack from Pauliena Rooijakkers from the back of the thinned-out group.
Vollering responded quickly to these moves, maintaining control. A select group, including the main contenders, headed into the final kilometer together. In the last stretch, Muzic managed to stay with Vollering who had a fierce and vast pace dropping Elisa Longo Borghini and Riejanne Markus who struggled on the hard parts of the climb. The only rider that could follow the Dutch national champion and leader in the general classifications is the young French Evita Muzic. In the final 50 meters, one of the steepest parts of the climb with 11% the FDJ Suez rider launches a final push, overtakes Vollering and wins the 6th stage of La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es atop the La Laguna Negra. Demi Vollering finished second, solidifying her lead in the overall standings, with another strong performance by Fenix DeCeuninck’s Yara Kastelijn rounding out the podium for the stage.
Demi Vollering remains leader in the general classification. Italian champion Elisa Longo Borghini loses some time but is still second +56 seconds behind the Team SDWorx-Protime rider. Riejanne Markus also lost some time on Vollering but is still a good contestant for the podium. Juliette Labous and Niamh Fisher Black complete the top 5.
Tomorrow
The weekend starts with the 7th stage from Siguenza to San Esteban de Gormaz, a hilly stage over 138,6km.