Spanish champion Usoa Ostolaza powered away from a select group of four riders to take a commanding victory on stage 2 of the Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées, crossing the mist-shrouded summit of the Col du Soulor alone. Her win on the 134.5-kilometre stage, which began in Trie-sur-Baïse, also secured the overall lead.
Nadia Gontova of Winspace Orange Seal chased hard and came in 16 seconds down to take second, while Ségolène Thomas of St Michel–Préférence Home–Auber 93 rounded out the podium, finishing a further three seconds back. Valentina Cavallar of Arkea-B&B Hotels was also part of the decisive selection on the steep slopes of Soulor, while Brodie Chapman led a strong chase before crossing the line in fifth, 58 seconds adrift.
The day had been animated early on by Heidi Frank of Cynisca Cycling, who built up a four-minute gap on a solo breakaway in a quest for the Queen of the Mountains points. Frank was caught with 13 kilometres to go, but the American will wear the mountain jersey going into stage 3.
Ostolaza, Gontova, Thomas and Cavallar pulled clear from a shrinking peloton with two kilometres remaining on the Soulor as the gradient hit 10%, and Ostolaza had the strength to drop her rivals and raise her arms at the summit, repeating her victory on a similar stage last year.
“It’s a very special win for me,” Ostolaza said afterwards. “Last year my first pro win also came on a tough climb like this. I’m really happy and proud of my team – every year we get better together.”
She will carry a 16-second advantage into the final stage, with Gontova and Thomas close behind on GC. Stage 1 and overnight leader Ally Wollaston was dropped at the base of the climb and slipped down the standings.
Ostolaza knows the decisive third stage will offer a very different kind of challenge. “Tomorrow will be tough,” she explained. “Today the final climb was long; tomorrow, there are seven short, sharp climbs. Yesterday I didn’t feel my best, but I hope my legs feel as good as they did today.” She’ll count on the support of teammates Naia Amondarain, Yuliia Biriukova, Idoia Eraso, Ane Santesteban and Cata Soto on the 127.5-kilometre stage across seven third-category ascents.
2025 Tour des Pyrénées Stage 2 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
