The queen stage of the 2025 Vuelta a Burgos was always going to be decisive, and it didn’t disappoint. The 95 km route from Soncillo to the summit of the Picón Blanco featured three categorised climbs ahead of the final showdown on the 8.2 km ascent averaging 9.1%. It was a stage designed for pure climbers, and by the time the peloton reached the final ramps, the expected names were battling for supremacy.
The early kilometres saw several riders attempt to animate the stage. After around 35 km, a breakaway finally got clear. Alison Jackson, Catalina Soto Campos, Alicia González, Silvia Zanardi, Annemarie Worst, Paula Blasi and Anastasiya Kolesava worked well together and built a lead approaching two minutes. But with GC ambitions at stake, the peloton – led largely by Movistar – never allowed too much leeway.
By the time the race reached the approach to Espinosa de los Monteros, only Jackson, Soto, González, and Kolesava remained from the original move, and they were swept up shortly before the final climb began.
The battle on the Picón Blanco was immediate. The peloton shattered on the steep lower slopes, with the group of favourites thinning to around a dozen. Race leader Mie Bjørndal Ottestad was quickly in difficulty but clung on as long as she could. Lotte Kopecky also faded, slipping out of contention and eventually finishing outside the top ten.
With 4.5 km to go, Marlen Reusser raised the pace. The attack wasn’t violent, but it was relentless. Riders dropped one by one. Only Yara Kastelijn could follow at first, but even she cracked with just over a kilometre remaining. Reusser surged away alone, holding her advantage over the final steep ramps to claim both the stage win and the purple leader’s jersey.
Kastelijn crossed the line 40 seconds down, while Elisa Longo Borghini limited her losses to just over a minute in third. Ottestad, who had led the GC after winning stage 2, finished well down and lost her grip on the jersey. Barbara Malcotti and Valentina Cavallar also impressed on the summit finish, coming home in 9th and 7th respectively, both moving into the overall top ten.
The race concludes tomorrow with a flat 9.4 km individual time trial from Villasana de Mena to Lezana de Mena, where Reusser, despite not having raced against the clock individually in two years, will start as the favourite to seal overall victory.
Photo Credit: Vuelta a BurgosReusser: “This wasn’t the plan”
After her commanding win, Marlen Reusser explained the move that earned her both stage glory and the race lead.
“I had so much time that I didn’t need to attack. But the pace wasn’t that strong, so I thought I’d push a little more and went for it. It wasn’t exactly how I planned, but it worked out that way.”
She also praised the work of her teammates, particularly Paula Patiño, who set the tempo into the climb.
“The team is incredible. I’m really happy. Yesterday they did a perfect job, and today, even though we weren’t leading the GC this morning, we decided to ride like we were. Everyone responded – our director, staff, and all the riders. I’m super proud of Movistar.”
Asked whether this kind of performance was why she joined the team, Reusser didn’t hesitate:
“Yes, I signed with Movistar for this. I hoped it would work out like this, but the truth is, I couldn’t imagine it. I didn’t know. And I’m super happy we’re here.”
Despite being a decorated time triallist, she admitted there’s a bit of rust to shake off before Sunday’s test against the clock.
“I’m usually a good time trialist, but my last time trial was almost two years ago. So I barely remember, and I’m really curious to do a time trial again.”
Climbers react to breakthrough rides
Barbara Malcotti was ninth on the stage and now sits seventh overall. The Italian was content with her ride, saying:
“I wanted to get a good result to show my form once again. When I found myself with Elisa [Longo Borghini] on the climb, I believed in a top five. But I’m satisfied with today’s result.”
She described how she paced herself carefully up the climb: “I tried to manage the climb as best as possible so I wouldn’t run out of energy in the final kilometres. When Reusser attacked, I didn’t follow directly, but I stayed with a wheel that kept me in contention.”
With a strong position to defend, she’s realistic about the challenge ahead. “TT is not my forte, to be honest. I’ll have to do the TT of my life to save the top ten. I’m nervous, but I’ll do my best.”
Valentina Cavallar was another standout, finishing seventh and moving up to sixth in the GC. Arkea-B&B Hotels sports director Gregory Le Calvé praised her effort: “Valentina confirmed her mountain potential today. It’s her first time trial in competition tomorrow, but we’re confident she can hold her position.” After a stage that reshuffled the GC and left many climbers with reasons to be proud, all attention now turns to the final test – a 9.4 km time trial that could cement careers or undo days of effort.
2025 Vuelta a Burgos Stage 3 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Sprint Cycling Agency
