SD Worx-Protime approach the 2025 La Vuelta Femenina with a dual focus: support Anna van der Breggen in her general classification return, while creating stage-winning opportunities for several riders across the team’s seven-day campaign in Spain. The race begins on Sunday with a team time trial in Barcelona and marks Van der Breggen’s first Grand Tour appearance since her retirement in 2021. Sports director Christian Kos remains realistic about her overall ambitions.
“With Anna, we have a strong GC option. A win might be out of reach, but we’ll certainly be fighting for the podium,” he said. “This Spanish phase is a building block towards our big summer targets.”
Despite falling ill during the Ardennes week, which disrupted her plans to assess her form against top opposition, Van der Breggen has already impressed with 3rd overall at Setmana Valenciana and 2nd at Strade Bianche. Kos was quick to highlight how few expected her to be this competitive so soon into her comeback.
“Anna’s comeback is going well. Nobody expected her to be at this level already,” he said. “It’s a pity she was ill during the Ardennes week. These were important goals for her, and it would have been a good gauge to see exactly where she stands.”
Backing Van der Breggen is a versatile line-up that includes Mikayla Harvey, Femke Markus, Elena Cecchini, and new signing Lisa Van Belle. However, two of the most closely watched names are Mischa Bredewold and Femke Gerritse, both of whom are set to chase stage wins. Mischa Bredewold comes in off a career-best spring, including a win at the Amstel Gold Race and a stage victory at Setmana Valenciana. Kos sees her as a rider on a clear upward trajectory.
“Mischa Bredewold is definitely eligible for a stage win,” he said. “Together we will see which stages we will pick out to try and score. Mischa’s development is gradual. She is taking the steps that a top rider takes. She has taken the right path. Witness also her nice win in the Amstel Gold Race.”
Bredewold’s ability to handle selective terrain and attack at the right moment makes her one of the team’s strongest cards outside of the GC. Meanwhile, Femke Gerritse also steps into La Vuelta Femenina with growing confidence after a strong spring campaign that included two wins. Once seen primarily as a support rider, she’s increasingly becoming a breakaway threat in her own right.
“Femke Gerritse has made a big step this season. Both as a rider and as a person. You can see she is much more ready for the big work,” said Kos. “Not only is she a good domestique for the Vuelta, we also expect her to slip into breakaways to maybe pick up a stage. If you ride well, it is easier to be in the right breakaway. After her two wins in the spring and her good form, Femke’s confidence is definitely boosted.”
While Van der Breggen remains the central figure for GC, SD Worx-Protime are clearly looking to share opportunities across the roster, using La Vuelta Femenina as both a proving ground and a stepping stone towards the summer stage races – most notably the Tour de France, where Lotte Kopecky is expected to lead the GC charge.
Main photo credit: Getty
