THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION -5 ″ BEHIND THE NEW LEADER FISHER-BLACK (SDW) – WILL CLOSE HER FIRST COMPETITION BLOCK OF 2021 TOMORROW WITH THE BRUTAL ASCENT TO THE LAGUNAS. UTTRUP LUDWIG (FDJ) TAKES TODAY’S WIN.
The Dane Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ) took the finish on the slope of Ojo Guareña this Saturday after a highly contested 3rd stage of the Vuelta a Burgos (UCI Women’s WorldTour), with endless attacks that could not avoid the demanding sprint of the group.
Movistar Team focused its efforts on limiting any losses and taking good care of its leader, Annemiek van Vleuten, before the decisive challenge tomorrow Sunday in the Lagunas de Neila, the hardest climb so far in 2021. The Dutch finished 8th, inside a second split at 3″ from the winner, which leaves her 5″ from the new leader, Niamh Fisher-Black (SDW). Katrine Aalerud finished 11 “behind Uttrup Ludwig and is 16” overall.
The final day, with 124 km and starting in Quintanar de la Sierra, will make a relatively flat first loop before facing the two decisive climbs: the Collado de Vilviestre (3rd), with about 3 km at 4.5%, and the Lagunas (Special), 12 km at 7%.
Cover image (c): Photo Gomez Sport