The Dutch Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) repeated in Basauri, in the second stage, the victory she achieved in the first in Elgoibar and strengthened her leadership in Itzulia Women 2024 after 104 km route with departure and arrival in Biscayan town.
If on the first day Bredewold won the peloton sprint, on this second day he also won the sprint but only by three units against the Spanish Mavi García (Liv-Alula-Jayco) and the French Juliette Labous (DSM- Firmenich).
On the final slope, Mavi launched the sprint, Labous just caught his wheel and Bredewold overtook him on the left it was very clear that the judges gave the winner a second advantage over those who were with him on the podium of the stage.
All three are strong candidates for the final victory, although always behind the great favourite, the Dutch Demi Vollering, partner of the winner of the first two stages and now in the chasing group who reached the finish line hot on their heels of the first three. .
In fact, Vollering, fifth at the finish line, also joined a group of three cyclists who overtook the peloton in the final meters. and that he was about to hunt down the first three. Along with Vollering, Canadian Olivia Baril (Movistar) and Swiss Elise Chabbey (Canyon-SRAM Racing) were 4 seconds behind Bredewold.
The largest group, which entered 9 seconds behind the winner, was led by Cuban Arlenis Sierra (Movistar), second in the first stage.
After that second victory, Bredewold, who accumulated 20 bonus seconds, now leads Mavi García by 15 seconds16 to Labous and 20 to his leader Vollering, who congratulated him warmly at the finish line.
This new victory for one of its runners maintains the overwhelming dominance of Team SD Worx in the Basque race, where it has won the two previous editions and the eight stages held.
Itzulia, which started as a new race in 2022, has no stage wins, no overall wins, or yellow riders who are not from the Dutch SD team.
The chaos of the day was limited to the last 40 km, since the wall of Urruztigaina began to climb.a slope of 1,600 meters at a 12.6 percent gradient where SD-Worx, led by the Dutch Niamh Fisher-Black, began to move a race that changed only for the Austrian Valentina Cavallar (Arkea- B&B Hotels) to secure the Mountain award.
From Urruztigaina, Vollering, Chabbey and Marlen Reusser came first, this one win in 2023 and also from SD Worx.
But the escape did not work, and neither did another subsequent one of the eight runners with good candidates and in the end an acceleration by Labous 12 km from the finish line was successful.
Although Mavi García and Bredewold joined then, he again took his chance and, in the final sprint, Mavi’s wheel. The Balearic Islander was second on the stage and second overall with the third and final stage remaining.
That last day will be held tomorrow, Sunday, and will almost be a replica on the Guipuzcoan roads of the San Sebastián-San Sebastián Classic, with departure and arrival in the capital of San Sebastián.
There will be a 114.9 km route with the only First stop of the full test along the way, Jaizkibel (7.9 km at 5.6 percent), although too far from the finish line (km 42.6).
Perhaps more decisive is Mendizorrotz (Segunda, 4.1 km at 7.3) and closer to the finish (km.86.4). In the middle, runners must climb Gurutze, Third (km.61.1).
Source: La Verdad
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