The 5th Itzulia Women got underway with a very mountainous 121km stage, which started and finished in Zarautz. The riders had to tackle six mountain climbs in very changeable weather conditions, with sunshine, rain and even hail.
The first attacks in search of a breakaway began on the first climb of the day, but were unsuccessful. A few kilometres down the road, in Azkarate, two cyclists managed to break away from the peloton: Megan Arens (TPP, 111) and Morgane Coston (MPE, 183). However, before starting the 2nd-category climb of Santa Ageda, the peloton picked up the pace and chased down the breakaway riders. The FDJ United-SUEZ team dragged the peloton along and set a challenging pace, leaving the group with 40 riders. The favourites were able to keep up with the pace without difficulty.
The climb up Etumeta was very fast, with the race favourites looking to step up the pace in order to seal victory on the final climb before the finish line. The main group was down to just 15 riders. Usoa Ostolaza, the cyclist from Zarautz, who started this Itzulia Women feeling very motivated, lost contact with the race leaders with 2 kilometres to go before reaching the summit of Etumeta.
The pace was so tough that the group was whittled down to just four riders: Lauren Dickson, Antonia Niedermaier, Riejanne Markus and Yara Kastelijn. After reaching the summit, Mischa Bredewold joined the group, while Antonia Niedermaier managed to pull slightly away from the group to lead the race. She was finally caught with 26 kilometres to go.
The leading group was well organised and kept a 35-second gap on the chasing group, which was made up of 16 riders including Juliette Berthet, Evita Muzic, Caroline Andersson, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Tiril Jørgensen, Usoa Ostolaza, Liane Lippert, Valentina Cavallar, Mona Mitterwallner, Petra Stiasny, Dominika Wlodarczyk, Lotte Claes, Magdeleine Vallieres, Katrine Aalerud, Ema Comte and Solène Muller.
The chase group continued to lose time and trailed by 55” before reaching the summit of Garate. The stage victory and overall lead came down to a battle between the five riders at the front of the race.
The sprint was a close one, but Mischa Bredewold ultimately proved to have the edge, securing the stage win and the yellow jersey. This marked her third stage win in the Itzulia Women.
Standings after Stage 1
Stage winner: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
Overall individual ranking: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
Mountain classification: Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103)
Overall points classification: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
Overall ranking best young rider: Ema Comte (CWT, 144)
Overall team classification: FDJ United-SUEZ
Overall ranking best Basque rider: Usoa Ostolaza (LKF, 74)
Most combative: Megan Arens (TPP, 111)
(SOURCE: Press Office)
