Vollering Wins Final Stage To Defend Vuelta Title

Demi Vollering defended her Vuelta Femenina title by winning nan last shape of nan title successful style.

The Dutch rider collapsed clear of her rivals successful nan last kilometre of shape 7 to transverse nan statement solo astatine nan Alto de Cotobello acme decorativeness successful Asturias, Spain.

Vollering, 28, held a 45-second advantage heading into nan last time and her 2nd shape triumph of nan title ensured she claimed her 2nd Vuelta title by 1 infinitesimal 1 2nd complete Switzerland's Marlen Reusser.

Vollering's compatriot and erstwhile team-mate Anna van der Breggen vanished 3rd overall, a further 15 seconds back.

FDJ-Suez rider Vollering took nan leader's reddish jersey pinch triumph successful nan race's different upland shape connected Thursday.

"I americium very happy that I could triumph some upland stages," said Vollering, who moved to FDJ from SD-Worx this season.

"My squad was truthful beardown again, truthful strong, and we were ever successful control. I'm really happy astir nan full capacity pinch nan full team."

Van der Breggen, who returned to competing this twelvemonth aft retiring successful 2021, started nan time 2nd and led for overmuch of nan last 10.3km climb successful nan rainfall connected nan 152km way from La Robla to Cotobello.

But she had nary reply for Vollering's explosive onslaught pinch astir 800 metres to go, besides falling down Reusser.

Vollering has now won 3 awesome circuit titles successful women's cycling, having won nan 2023 Tour de France Femmes to spell pinch her 2 Vuelta triumphs.

Her 2nd triumph of nan title besides ensured each individual shape was won by a Dutch rider.

After American outfit Lidl-Trek claimed nan opening squad clip trial, Marianne Vos won stages 2 and six, Van der Breggen won shape 4 and Femke Gerritse took triumph connected shape three.