Demi Vollering claimed a third overall victory at Itzulia Women in commanding fashion on the final stage in San Sebastián, overturning a 19-second deficit to Mischa Bredewold with a searing solo attack on the Mendizorrotz climb and holding her advantage to the line.
The final stage offered just 112.9 km, but packed in significant climbing and a punchy finish. The Jaizkibel came early in the day, with the real battleground saved for the final 20 km. Bredewold, defending her slender GC lead after winning the opening two stages, had Liane Lippert and Julie Van de Velde snapping at her heels, just 12 and 15 seconds back respectively. Vollering sat 19 seconds adrift, needing both a stage win and time gains to take the title.
Early attempts to break up the race came from Liv-AlUla-Jayco’s Ava Holmgren, who attacked before the Jaizkibel but was reeled in quickly. Over the summit, Amanda Spratt crested first ahead of Vollering and Bredewold, though the peloton remained largely intact. Mid-stage, Célia Le Mouel and Sara Martín found a gap and extended their lead to over a minute, sweeping up points at the intermediate sprints in Donostia and Usurbil.
As the race approached the final climb, FDJ-Suez took over the pacing. The breakaway duo were reeled in just before the slopes of the Mendizorrotz, where the real race began. Léa Curinier ramped up the tempo at the base before Vollering struck with her first acceleration. Only Mavi Garcia and Antonia Niedermaier could initially follow. The pace was too high, however, and within moments, Vollering had dispensed with them too.
Photo Credit: Itzulia WomenThe race fragmented behind her. Garcia and Niedermaier found themselves in no-woman’s-land as Vollering extended her advantage. Pauliena Rooijakkers and Évita Muzic also lost contact and were eventually absorbed by a chasing group that included Bredewold, Van Dam and Ghekiere. Bredewold, now isolated, worked hard to limit losses, but Vollering’s lead ballooned to over a minute as she crested the climb solo.
With 11 km to go and a technical descent ahead, Vollering had a 46-second gap over Niedermaier and more than a minute on the main GC group. She descended cleanly and confidently into Donostia and never looked under threat.
Behind, Ghekiere and Sarah Van Dam escaped from the chase group inside the final kilometre. Van Dam edged the sprint for second, securing enough bonus seconds to leap onto the overall podium, while Ghekiere finished third on the stage and fourth overall.
Vollering crossed the line alone, arms raised, having executed a decisive and clinical plan to perfection. It marked the end of SD Worx-Protime’s three-year winning run at Itzulia Women and returned the race’s top step to Vollering, who also won the inaugural edition in 2022.
Thoughts after the finish
“I needed to get some time on Mischa so I could not wait. When there’s a climb I know how strong I am. Even though I cramped yesterday and still have muscle pain, I’ve done worse with a broken back [tailbone] in the Tour de France so I just really needed to trust myself and go for it.”
FDJ-Suez’s efforts were crucial throughout. “The whole team was so strong. Amber [Kraak] was riding the whole day in the front, Léa [Curinier] did a really strong pull on the first part of the climb to make it as hard as possible from the bottom, Évita [Muzic], perfect job to follow the second group. It was perfect teamwork today.”
Bredewold finished in the main chase group and retained second overall, along with the points classification. “It’s not a secret that we needed a little bit of a miracle. I actually had a really good day. I felt strong, but on the climbs, she [Vollering] is on another level now. I can be super happy with second on GC and two stages.”
Van Dam’s late effort earned her a breakout WorldTour GC podium in what is her first full European season. “I’m a bit speechless, honestly, I just can’t believe that happened. The team rode amazing, from the start we were really aggressive. I had to keep fighting, and I fought to the end. I’m so happy.”
Photo Credit: Itzulia WomenJustine Ghekiere, third on the stage and fourth overall, also rode strongly across the race, while Thalita de Jong delivered consistency with fifth on the stage and GC. “I was gambling a bit in the final when we were catching riders back and not closing the gaps, but I can be proud of this fifth place, so I’m happy for myself and the team.”
Further back, Maud Oudeman placed 13th on the day and 12th overall for Visma-Lease a Bike, with her sports director Jan Boven summing up the weekend: “We knew the last climb would be decisive and that Demi would attack full speed. A 5-kilometre climb doesn’t lie, so in the end everyone is sitting where they should be.”
Among the standouts was Antonia Niedermaier, who spent much of the final part of the race alone between Vollering and the chasers. She was caught with 4 km to go but still secured the best young rider classification and moved up from 29th to 8th overall.
“I raced with my heart. Even after I dropped from Demi’s wheel, I really tried to fight and give it my all. I think the team also did a great job to keep me in position, and I think really we should be proud.”
2025 Itzulia Women Stage 3 result
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2025 Itzulia Women GC result
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Main photo credit: Itzulia Women
