Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ) won stage 6 of La Vuelta Femenina by outsprinting Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) on the category 1 climb to La Laguna Negra. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) was third.
“I wasn’t 100% sure that I could do it. When I turned back and saw that I was the only one on Vollering’s wheel, I was just focusing on not getting dropped. I often finish fourth, like in Flèche [Wallonne], and I really wanted one big victory. Now I have that, and I think I will also be confident in myself now. I always start the climb a bit far behind, but I always have the legs, and now I showed that to everyone.”
The race began aggressively with 50km of continuous attacks and regroupings before a breakaway finally formed. Claudia San Justo (Eneicat-CM Team) and Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels) were the first two riders to get away, followed by Fauve Bastiaenssen (Lotto Dstny Ladies) and Aurela Nerlo (Winspace). This group of four stayed away until 17km from the finish.
As the race headed towards the finishing climb to La Laguna Negra, 6.5km with an average gradient of 6.8% and ramps up to 14%, Lidl-Trek took charge and dictated the pace. Shortly thereafter, Grace Brown (FDJ-SUEZ) came to the front and took over the pace. Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) eventually went to the front and set the pace, until teammate Marlen Reusser took over at the 2km mark.
At the 1km mark, the front group consisted of Vollering, Rooijakkers, Longo Borghini, Muzic, Riejanne Markus, Yara Kastelijn, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Juliette Labous, Niamh Fisher-Black, and Kim Cadzow.
As the finish line approached, Muzic made a strong push, catching Vollering’s wheel before accelerating in the final 40 meters to take the victory.
Results
Vuelta Femenina Stage 6
1. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-Suez, in 4:10:20
2. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime, +2s
3. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck, +15s
4. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike, +17s
5. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek, +21s
6. Ricarda Bauerfind (Ger) Canyon-SRAM
7. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL, both at same time
8. Pauliena Rooijakkers (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck, +33s
9. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) SD Worx-Protime, +38s
10. Kim Cazdow (NZl) EF Education-Cannondale, +40s
General Classification
1. Demi Vollering (Ned) SD Worx-Protime, in 17:20:01
2. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Lidl-Trek, +56s
3. Riejanne Markus (Ned) Visma-Lease a Bike, +1:14
4. Juliette Labous (Fra) dsm-firmenich PostNL. +1:38
5. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZl) SD Worx-Protime, +2:42
6. Évita Muzic (Fra) FDJ-Suez, +2:42
7. Marlen Reusser (Sui) SD Worx-Protime, +2:52
8. Ricarda Bauerfind (Ger) Canyon-SRAM, +3:17
9. Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck, + 3:25
10. Kristen Faulkner (USA) EF Education-Cannondale, +3:29
https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/ceratzit-challenge-by-la-vuelta/2024/stage-7
