Stage 2 of the 2025 Itzulia Women served up a dramatic finale, with Mischa Bredewold once again emerging as the winner after a tight chase and perfectly judged sprint in Igorre. The SD Worx-Protime rider held her nerve as a three-rider breakaway came within metres of spoiling the sprinters’ plans and added a second stage victory to her tally, solidifying her lead in the general classification.
The day began in Ugao-Miraballes and took the riders over 116 kilometres of terrain that was front-loaded with climbs. Within the first 40km, the peloton faced two short but steep ascents – Bikotxgane (3km at 9%) and Lamindao (2.4km at 9.9%) – which sparked early attacks and forced splits. Demi Vollering opened the day’s first major move, testing her rivals on the climbs. She was joined by a handful of others, but the break was soon reeled in as a larger elite group came together over the top.
By the halfway point, the race had settled, with most of the favourites, including yellow jersey wearer Bredewold, part of a regrouped front peloton. AG Insurance-Soudal’s Julie Van de Velde took advantage of the slower pace on the flatter middle section and launched a solo attack heading into the final 40km. She was eventually joined by Dilyxine Miermont of Cofidis, but the pair were reeled in before the final climbs.
As the race approached the final 10km, the key move of the day was launched. Silke Smulders of Liv-AlUla-Jayco attacked first and was soon joined by Mareille Meijering from Movistar and Rosita Reijnhout of Visma-Lease a Bike. The Dutch trio worked well together and opened up a lead of around 20 seconds, gaining ground as the peloton hesitated behind them.
Inside the final 5km, the advantage had been reduced slightly, but with 1.5km to go the three escapees still had a real chance of success. Meijering looked strong and led into the final kilometre, but the gap had tumbled to single digits. SD Worx-Protime, lacking a rider up front, were forced to burn through their remaining domestiques to set up a last-ditch chase.
The catch came heartbreakingly late for the attackers, just 500 metres from the line. In the ensuing sprint, Bredewold launched from distance and held off Liane Lippert and Soraya Paladin to win by a clear bike length, repeating her opening-day victory in the yellow jersey.
Photo Credit: Itzulia WomenRider reactions and team responses
For Mischa Bredewold, the win was as satisfying as it was exhausting.
“It was a really hard stage and a really hard sprint,” she admitted after the finish. “I still feel like I’m in a different world. It’s one of those sprints where you start early and just hope you can make it. I’m completely empty.”
Bredewold was full of praise for her teammates, especially after the team had to race without their key GC leader Anna van der Breggen, who didn’t start following her crash on stage 1.
“My teammates did a perfect job. I’m speechless really – they gave everything today. It wasn’t easy without Anna, we missed her, but we all stepped up,” said Bredewold, who now leads the GC by 12 seconds over Lippert.
Rosita Reijnhout came within touching distance of the win in what would have been the biggest result of her career.
“I was really hoping it was going to work out,” said Reijnhout. “But when the bunch is chasing and you can hear them behind you, you know it’s going to be hard. To be caught in the last 200 metres – that really hurts.”
Silke Smulders, who initiated the move, reflected on another near-miss after suffering a similar fate at the Simac Ladies Tour last season.
“I just went on instinct. When the peloton hesitated, I thought this might be the moment. We worked well together and it felt like we could make it,” said Smulders. “It was a bummer to be caught that late, but I’m proud of how I raced. No regrets.”
Soraya Paladin, who finished third, praised her Canyon SRAM teammates for putting her in position during the hectic final.
“I was a bit boxed in with a few kilometres to go but found my teammate Rica Bauernfeind and she guided me through the last roundabout perfectly,” said Paladin. “Mischa was very strong again today, but I’m happy to be on the podium.”
Visma-Lease a Bike also came away from the day with another strong showing. Margaux Vigié sprinted to fifth, following up her third place from stage 1, while Shirin van Anrooij, Karlijn Swinkels and Quinty Ton all finished in the top ten. Vigié and Eva van Agt now sit fourth and seventh overall, and sports director Jan Boven remains optimistic about Sunday’s final stage.
“The girls did an excellent job today,” said Boven. “We had representation in the break, a top-five in the sprint, and we’re still well-positioned in the GC. Tomorrow we’ll do everything to move up.”
With two stages done, Bredewold leads Lippert by 12 seconds, with Soraya Paladin close behind. The final stage features the Jaizkibel early on, but the key challenge will be the Mendizorrotz climb (6.4km at 5.3%) with the summit just 11km from the finish in Donostia.
Bredewold has the form and the jersey, but the final day’s terrain could favour a late attack from one of her rivals. A third stage win is within reach – but so is a potential upset if things go wrong on the climbs.
2025 Itzulia Women Stage 2 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Naikefotosport Cxcling
