Lorena Wiebes has won the third stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas to go with her win on the opening stage. Wiebes was the quickest in a chase for the finish line which saw the bunch only catch the break in the final metres. Most of the peloton arrived too late, but with a final burst of effort, Wiebes managed to outdo the seven attackers within view of the finish line.
On day three of the Women’s Tour of Burgos, the course was not too challenging. The 112.7-kilometre-long ride from Claeruega to Aranda de Duero was predominantly flat, although the final kilometre did have a nasty uphill stretch. Admittedly nothing like Stage 2’s finish but still an uphill drag nonetheless.
In the opening hour of the race, there were several breakaway attempts, but none got away. The pace was simply too high. In the second part of the race, Morgane Coston did manage to get some daylight off the front. Various riders tried to make the bridge up to the Cofidis rider. Sheyla Gutiérrez, Kathrin Hammes, Jessenia Meneses, Sofia Rodríguez, Debora Silvestri, Karolina Kumiega, and Maria Paula Latriglia succeeded in doing so with 26 kilometres still to go.
Behind the eight leaders, the pace remained erratic for a while, which did not help the chase. The breakaway group managed to get more than 45 seconds ahead. After which, SD Worx then started to ride but couldn’t close the gap. In fact, with ten kilometres to go, the difference had only increased. At this point, the attackers had a margin of 1’05”.
The breakaway group was thinning at this point, as Rodríguez could no longer keep up the pace on an uphill stretch. However, the remaining seven bravely continued. SD Worx, including Demi Vollering, significantly increased the pace and also received help from AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step and Jayco-AlUla. The extra assistance from rival teams helped to close the gap quickly. Although with four kilometres to go, the escapees still had half a minute. It was going to be a close-run thing.
As the final kilometre began, the attackers still had more than ten seconds, but things quietened down before the final, uphill stretch. Karolina Kumiega was pinned to the front, desperate for someone to take over from her. Meanwhile, Demi Vollering was going all out for Lorena Wiebes, who had to start her sprint from a long way out. The European champion managed to fly past the leading group in the last 100 metres. Elisa Balsamo, the only rider from the peloton able to follow in Wiebes’ slipstream, finished second. Third place was Sheyla Gutiérrez who was the best-placed finisher of the breakaway.
“The leading group was a good reference point. The team worked very hard. I was in Demi Vollering’s wheel the whole last kilometre. I initially thought the breakaway group would make it. I saw the leading group slowing down. Demi went full throttle and then I started my sprint. The leading group was a nice reference point for me. It’s mainly a battle between us and Trek-Segafredo, who were also very strong in the sprint. I was extra motivated today because of yesterday’s relegation. I’m going all in for Demi tomorrow,”
Lorena Wiebes
2023 Vuelta a Burgos Stage 3 result
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Main photo credit: Getty Images
