Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx-Protime clinched the first stage of Itzulia Women in Elgoibar. The Dutch rider was expertly guided to the line by her teammate Demi Vollering, securing a compelling victory in a keenly contested sprint.
The 140-kilometre stage from Vitoria-Gasteiz was marked by three categorised climbs, culminating in a dramatic finale that saw Bredewold outpace her rivals. Arlenis Sierra of Movistar Team took a commendable second place, while Vollering completed the podium in third.
The day began with the peloton tightly packed, navigating the early climb of Olaeta, where Olivia Baril of Movistar Team showcased her climbing skills by taking the points. As the race progressed, a significant breakaway formed 63 kilometres from the finish, including Petra Stiasny of Fenix-Deceuninck and Stine Dale of Team Coop-Repsol.
Dale proved the stronger of the two on the challenging Azkarate climb, ultimately joined by Valentina Cavallar of Arkรฉa-B&B Hotels. Despite their valiant effort, the duo’s lead was gradually whittled down by a chasing peloton driven by strong performances from Brodie Chapman of Lidl-Trek and Urลกka ลฝigart of Liv-AlUla-Jayco.
As the race entered its decisive phase, the peloton reeled in all breakaways. A flurry of attacks in the final kilometres, led by notable riders such as Alice Maria Arzuffi of Ceratizit-WNT and Elena Pirrone of Roland, failed to disrupt the control imposed by DSM-Firmenich PostNL, setting the stage for a sprint finish.
Bredewold, following an impeccable lead-out from Vollering, powered to the front in the closing metres to secure a victory that was as much a testament to her sprinting ability as it was to her team’s tactical acumen.
Speaking after her win, an elated Bredewold shared her relief and joy, “This win means a lot. The sprint stages have been a bit disappointing for me, but today, I felt good, supported by an incredible team. It’s a relief and a special feeling to win, especially in such a beautiful jersey.”
(Photo Credit: Getty)
The victory also marks the seventh consecutive Itzulia stage win for SD Worx-Protime, underscoring their dominance in this race. With more challenging stages to come, the team looks poised to continue their aggressive and open racing strategy.
As the peloton looks ahead, Bredewold and her teammates remain focused on maintaining their lead, with the challenging terrain of the Basque Country promising more thrilling racing in the days ahead.
2024 Itzulia Women Stage 1 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
