Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi heads into the 2025 La Vuelta España Femenina with a clear ambition: to animate the race. The Basque team will look to be a presence in the breakaways, challenge in the sprints, and see how far they can climb in the overall standings across the seven-day route from Barcelona to Cotobello.
The squad brings a well-rounded line-up of seven riders: Yuliia Biriukova, Arianna Fidanza, Usoa Ostolaza, Ane Santesteban, Debora Silvestri, Alba Teruel and Laura Tomasi. It’s a group that can handle varied terrain and contribute to the race in multiple ways, with sprint options, climbing ability and experience in managing tough stages.
“The Vuelta is the first major event of the year,” said sports director Ion Lazkano. “Our main objective will be to be in the breakaways, seek our prominence, show off the jersey and see how far we can go in the GC day by day. For the sprints, Laura Tomasi is our best chance to fight for a top 10.”
Stage wins will be hard-fought, but the team is also aiming to make an impression through aggression and visibility. With a short team time trial to open proceedings in Barcelona, followed by a mix of flat, punchy and mountainous stages, the parcours offers opportunities for riders willing to commit early.
Usoa Ostolaza returns to La Vuelta after missing the last two editions through illness. “I’m excited. Two years ago, I had to retire on the fourth stage, and last year I couldn’t race at all. This year I’m recovered and really looking forward to it,” she said. “I really like the route, especially the stage to Lagunas de Neila and the final one to Cotobello. These are the types of stages I enjoy most, long climbs that finish at altitude.”
The fifth stage features the HC-rated climb to Lagunas de Neila, 6.8 km at an average gradient of 8.7%, while the queen stage on the final day finishes atop Cotobello, after a brutal sequence of climbs including the Colladona and Colladiella. That decisive final stage packs over 2,500 metres of climbing into just over 150 kilometres.
In between, stages 2 and 4 offer rolling, unpredictable profiles that may suit breakaway specialists. Stages 3 and 6 are flatter and provide Tomasi a shot in the bunch sprints. With bonus seconds on the line across both stages and intermediate sprints, there will be opportunities to shape the GC from the margins as well.
