Whether in a flat bunch sprint or on a gentle slope from a small group: Wiebes is the fastest woman in the world in the final metres. She proved the latter in Poza de la Sal, where the first stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas ended after 125 kilometres and a 1600 metre long final ramp with a gradient of 5.9 percent, thus also taking the lead in the overall standings. It was the 101st victory of her career. Almost two months ago - an almost infinitely long time for Wiebes - she had cracked the big mark at Gent-Wevelgem.
The last two breakaway riders, Célia Gery (FDJ - Suez) and Steffi Häberlin (Team SD Worx - Protime), were only caught 1300 metres from the finish. They had broken away from a group of favourites that emerged when the original escapees were caught on a descent just 40 kilometres before the finish.
And so a sprint on the final ramp had to be decisive. The fact that a gap opened up after the first eight riders, including Franziska Koch (Team Picnic PostNL) in sixth place as the best German, showed just how difficult the final was. Marlen Reusser (Movistar Team), one of the favourites for overall victory, was already five seconds behind. The same also applied to Juliette Labous (FDJ - Suez), team captain in place of Demi Vollering, and Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto).
Tour of Burgos for women - results of stage 1
Stage 1: Burgos - Poza de la Sal
Vuelta a Burgos Feminas 2025: Stage 1, Burgos - Poza de la Sal
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team SD Worx - Protime | 03:22:31 |
| 2 | Lidl - Trek | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Team SD Worx - Protime | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | UAE Team ADQ | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | Team Picnic PostNL | +00:00:00 |
This is how the 1st stage of the 2025 Tour of Burgos for women went
Shortly after the start of stage 1, in which Lidl-Trek already had to do without Gaia Realini, the first attacks were launched. The most prominent name was Ally Wollaston (FDJ - SUEZ), but the Australian didn't get too far. The Frenchwoman Morgane Coston (Roland) went further and in the meantime built up a lead of more than five minutes. Idoia Eraso (Laboral Kutxa - Fundación Euskadi) from Spain was her companion.
With 50 kilometres to go, there was still half of it left. But the gap continued to shrink rapidly. With 37 kilometres to go, they were dropped on a long descent. The peloton also split up on this section - not all of the favourites were at the front. In addition to Kopecky, Wiebes and Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ), Koch and Niedermeier as well as Kathrin Schweinberger (Human Powered Health) were also at the front.
Courageous duo is caught 1300 metres before the finish line
The group was largely united and had quickly worked its way up to 25 seconds. At the mountain classification 25 kilometres into the race, Balsamo and Reusser jumped from the back to the front. With 18 kilometres to go, however, the air ran out and the first chasing group was able to catch up with the leaders. Shortly afterwards, Gery used the calm to launch an attack, which Häberlin followed. The duo went into the last ten kilometres with a 30-second lead, three kilometres later it was one minute.
But then the gap shrank again as Lidl took over for Balsamo. With 1300 metres to go, the group roared past the two. And the final climb began. Things calmed down again at first. Kopecky took the lead and controlled the peloton from the front before starting the sprint 200 metres before the line. However, it didn't help. First Balsamo and then Wiebes flew past from behind. Once again, the European champion was irresistible in her sprinting qualities.
