Vollering attacks in the final kilometer and wins Stage 2 in Burgos

The second stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Femenina 2024 over 123 km from Briviesca to Medina de Pomar, ending in a challenging second category climb to Alto de Rosales. The stage was marked a four rider breakaway and an uphill finish that saw Demi Vollering of SD Worx claim victory, reaffirming her status as a top contender in this year’s race.

The race began under overcast skies, with a moderate temperature that gradually gave way to intermittent rain. The peloton stayed largely intact through the early kilometers, with teams jockeying for position as they approached the intermediate sprint at the 25.8 km mark. Soraya Paladin (Canyon//SRAM) took the maximum bonus seconds, followed closely by Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) and Neve Bradbury (Canyon//SRAM)

As the race progressed, a series of attacks and counterattacks kept the peloton stretched and on high alert. Notably, Sara Martín (Movistar) initiated an early break at around 27 km, but it was quickly neutralized by the vigilant SDWorx-Protime team, showcasing their intent to control the race dynamics from the outset.

At km 60 we have a break of 4 riders. Marta Romeu Solaz(LKF), Miryiam Nunez(PVA) 125 Antri Christoforou (CGS) and Valentina Basilico (CEI) attack the peloton and get more than 2 minutes from the peloton. But as the riders hit the 32km mark, the road goes up to the many uncategorized climbs and the break was over.

The pivotal moment of the race came as the peloton hit the slopes of the final climb. The 3.7 km ascent with an average gradient of 4.7% proved to be the perfect stage for climbers to make their move. With around 3 km to go, Team SD Worx-Protime took the lead, setting a punishing pace that thinned out the peloton significantly. At the forefront was Demi Vollering, supported by her teammate Lorena Wiebes who kept the tempo high until the final kilometer.

The Final Attack

With 1.1 km remaining, Demi Vollering launched a decisive attack. Her acceleration was met with a brief response from Evita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) and Karlijn Swinkels(UAE Team ADQ), but the Dutch rider proved too strong. Vollering powered away, leaving her competitors trailing in her wake. She maintained her effort all the way to the line, crossing it solo to take a commanding win. Muzic managed to secure second place, while Swinkels held on for third.

Post-Race Reactions

In her post-race interview, Demi Vollering expressed satisfaction with her performance, highlighting the teamwork that set up her victory. “The team was fantastic today, controlling the race from the start and keeping me in a perfect position for the final climb. I’m really happy to take the win and it’s a great boost for the team,” she said

Evita Muzic, who finished second, praised Vollering’s strength but remained optimistic about her own form. “Demi was incredibly strong today. I tried to follow her, but she had another gear. I’m happy with my performance and looking forward to the next stages,” Muzic commented

The stage win solidified Vollering’s position as a key contender for the overall title. While the general classification remained tightly packed, her victory on such a decisive stage gave her a psychological and time advantage going into the subsequent stages. The GC battle is expected to intensify with riders like Shirin van Anrooij, Liane Lippert, Evita Muzic and Karlijn Swinkels, wanting to overthrow the power of the Dutch Vollering

Tomorrow the sprinters will have a change to do something and the legs of the climbers will get a change to recover as the peloton will ride 122km but no significant climbs