Vuelta a Burgos Feminas – Race Report

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas

24th May – Stage 3: Soncillo – Picón Blanco

The penultimate day of racing in Burgos saw a short but sharp 95 kilometre stage, with the brutal summit finish atop Picón Blanco awaiting the riders. With an average gradient of nine percent for eight kilometres, it was set to be an all-out battle between the climbers.

Team Picnic PostNL kept Nienke Vinke safe throughout the day and brought her into position at the head of the peloton going onto the climb. On the ascent, a strong tempo was set and Vinke had to ride at her own place; finishing the stage in 16th place. However, that result was enough to see her move into the lead of the best young rider classification ahead of the final stage.

Vinke said: “Unfortunately yesterday we lost a chance of a good GC result because of a crash, so today the goal was to go for a stage result. There were a lot of narrow roads, so positioning was very important today. Franzi stayed with me the whole day and helped me to be in position on the right moments so that was very good. Franzi brought me into the last climb in a good position. Then it was over to me, but unfortunately I didn’t have the legs today to go with the best, so I’m disappointed with that. Tomorrow is another day though and we will give it our all one last time in the time trial.”

Results

  • 34.013/H
  • 95KM
  • 1928M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1REUSSER MarlenMovistar Team2:47:35-
2KASTELIJN YaraFenix-Deceuninck0:40-
3LONGO BORGHINI ElisaUAE Team ADQ1:17-
16VINKE NienkeTeam Picnic PostNL3:25-
36PEPERKAMP EsméeTeam Picnic PostNL7:37-
45KOCH FranziskaTeam Picnic PostNL10:35-
50LONDOÑO JulianaTeam Picnic PostNL11:44-
86HEREMANS EllaTeam Picnic PostNL18:36-
DNFSTORRIE BeckyTeam Picnic PostNL-

23rd May – Stage 2: Villalba de Duero – Roa de Duero

Stage 2 of the Vuelta a Burgos promised fireworks with a short, sharp 1.3 km climb placed just 8 km before the finish—an ideal launchpad for late attacks. Early in the day, a two-rider breakaway was allowed up the road, but the peloton, never letting the gap grow too large, kept them within reach. Team Picnic PostNL played their part in the chase, riding with composure and staying well-positioned as a unit throughout the stage.

Disaster struck, however, just after the breakaway was reeled in. A crash at the front of the peloton, involving several of our riders, split the bunch. Despite the setback, the team regrouped quickly and contributed to the chase to try and regain contact with the main bunch. Ultimately, the pace at the front proved too high to overcome. Nienke Vinke was our first rider across the line in Roa de Duero, 1’46” down on Ottestad, winner of the stage.

After the stage, coach Callum Ferguson said: “It was mainly a day for teamwork and positioning for the girls, and they did that well for most of the stage. Unfortunately, there was a big crash that involved all of our riders. After that, several other teams took up the chase, and we just couldn’t make it back to the front. It’s a shame Nienke lost time in the GC, but we’ve got one more opportunity tomorrow with the mountain top finish to try and turn things around.”

Results

  • 40.015/H
  • 122KM
  • 924M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1OTTESTAD Mie BjørndalUno-X Mobility3:02:56-
2REUSSER MarlenMovistar Team,,-
3WIEBES LorenaTeam SD Worx - Protime0:18-
54VINKE NienkeTeam Picnic PostNL1:46-
72KOCH FranziskaTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
104HEREMANS EllaTeam Picnic PostNL6:36-
111PEPERKAMP EsméeTeam Picnic PostNL9:18-
113LONDOÑO JulianaTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
114STORRIE BeckyTeam Picnic PostNL,,-

22nd May – Stage 1: Burgos – Poza de la Sal

The first day of racing in Burgos saw the peloton take on a rolling stage with a few tricky categorised climbs before a punchy two kilometre long uphill drag to the finish line. From the start Team Picnic PostNL rode well as a group, and things were steady in the peloton as a breakaway held onto a large advantage. This meant the pace was strong over the climbs and thus onto the descents, and on one those a group formed at the head of the race.

Franziska Koch used her descending skills to be there and present for the team, but things ultimately came back together. A few more attacks before the finish were closed down and a punchy sprint was set-up, where Koch led home the team for a solid sixth place at the line.

Koch said: “I am happy with my top ten today, especially in this strong field of sprinters that are here. The race exploded on a descent and I could make the front group there, so we were in control of the situations which was good. In the end, it came down to a bunch sprint, where I managed to stay out of trouble and have a free way to go for it to the line on a punchy short uphill finish.”

Results

  • 37.034/H
  • 125KM
  • 1559M
  • Stage
  • General classification
  • Points classification
  • Youth classification
  • Mountains classification
  • Teams classification
Pos.RiderTeamTimePoints
1WIEBES LorenaTeam SD Worx - Protime3:22:31-
2BALSAMO ElisaLidl - Trek,,-
3KOPECKY LotteTeam SD Worx - Protime,,-
6KOCH FranziskaTeam Picnic PostNL,,-
21VINKE NienkeTeam Picnic PostNL0:14-
42PEPERKAMP EsméeTeam Picnic PostNL0:40-
46LONDOÑO JulianaTeam Picnic PostNL0:45-
104HEREMANS EllaTeam Picnic PostNL7:53-
119STORRIE BeckyTeam Picnic PostNL16:08-