In third place, Switzerland's Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility) prevented an all-Dutch podium, as Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx - Protime), who had taken the sprint from Gerritse, finished the day in fourth place behind the Swiss rider. The 132-kilometre stage between Barbastro and Huesca had no mountain classifications and only a few hills. When the wind came into play around 20 kilometres before the finish and blew the peloton into several pieces on the crest, things got hectic again.
Not all of the groups that had been left behind managed to return to the large leading group. Some GC contenders also lost time. When a crash split the front group again 1500 metres before the end, some riders were affected again. However, everyone made it to the finish, so that the application of the three-kilometre rule meant that there were no further time gaps.
Nevertheless, there is a new leader in the overall standings. And her name is Femke Gerritse. With bonus seconds, she ousted Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco), who finished seventh, from the red jersey. Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike) was also able to overtake the Italian with bonus seconds.
"The result today is completely unexpected for me. It's completely crazy," said a Gerritse searching for words in the interview. It was only the third professional victory for the 23-year-old. She had won the Omloop van het Hageland at the beginning of March. Her debut victory in a smaller race dates back to 2021.
La Vuelta Femenina 2025 - Results of the 3rd stage
Stage 3: Barbastro - Huesca
Vuelta España Femenina 2025: Stage 3, Barbastro - Huesca
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team SD Worx - Protime | 03:23:24 |
| 2 | Team Visma | Lease a Bike | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Uno-X Mobility | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Team SD Worx - Protime | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | Team Picnic PostNL | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | FDJ - SUEZ | +00:00:00 |
How the 3rd stage of the Vuelta Femenina 2025 went
The third stage of the Vuelta Femenina started without Olympic time trial champion Chloé Dygert (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) and sprinter Georgia Baker (Liv AlUla Jayco). Without any major topographical hurdles, a group of five riders quickly formed, in which the Norwegian champion Team Magdalene Lind (Coop - Repsol) was the most prominent representative. Lea Lin Teutenberg (Lotto Ladies), who had already caught the eye the day before with a breakaway attempt, tried to catch up but was unable to close the gap.
Little happened over the following kilometres. The gap was only closed again shortly before the intermediate sprint a good 30 kilometres before the finish. Just in time for Gerritse to show off her good legs for the first time that day and relegate Vos to second place.
Wind edge picks the field apart
After that, the peloton became hectic, as the increasingly strong crosswind caused the field to break up on the windward edge. Several small groups managed to close the gap again before the finale. Nevertheless, some riders were left behind. Ellen van Dijk (Lidl-Trek) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix-Deceuninck), who had already lost time the day before, lost more than three minutes again. Also Ane Santesteban (Laboral Kutxa - Fundación Euska) in the mountains jersey. Olivia Baril (Movistar Team) and Loes Adegeest (FDJ - Suez) finished far behind the leaders.
There was another scary moment around 1500 metres before the finish when a mass crash split the head group again. Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team) and Juliette Labous (FDJ - Suez) were among those caught out, but were classified without losing time due to the three-kilometre rule.
SD Worx then prepared the final sprint for its sprinter in exemplary fashion. First of all, team captain Anna van der Breggen spun into the wind for well over a kilometre before Bredewold took over as the last rider ahead of Gerritse. The eventual winner set such a fast pace in the final 200 metres that even Vos, despite being right behind her, was unable to pass her in the slipstream.
