CONSONNI MAKES IT TWO CONSECUTIVE STAGE WINS FOR THE TEAM IN EXTREMADURA

Chiara Consonni capitalised on exceptional team efforts throughout stage 2 of Vuelta a Extremadura, claiming a commanding sprint victory after 133 kilometres on gently undulating roads.

It was the team’s second win in as many days, after Zoe Bäckstedt triumphed in yesterday’s opening time trial – a result which gave Chiara extra motivation to secure her first victory of the season. One word immediately came to mind when she described how it felt:

“Happpppy! First victory of the year! No seriously, I was really happy yesterday because we started with Zoe winning, and again today, I think we did really, really good.”

A manageable but by no means straightforward race situation developed when a lone rider gained an advantage of over five minutes. With 22km remaining, the gap was still hovering just below two minutes, but by 10km to go it had dropped into double digits as several teams began working together to close it down.

Chiara reflected on the teamwork that laid the foundations for her stage success.

“The girls started chasing when the break had over four minutes, and I think everybody did their job really well. And then Justyna, she did a really amazing lead-out for me – so did Zoe. They brought me into the best position so all I had to do was sprint and close the circle of team-work today.”

Alongside Chiara, it was 22-year-old Justyna Czapla who was widely applauded at the finish, completing a lengthy pull at the head of the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto train to bring general classification leader Zoe and designated sprinter Chiara safe and fresh into the final kilometres.

Zoe was quick to recognise the importance of that effort.

“She did the ultimate lead-out, I tell you, from 8km until 2.5km to go. She was super strong and I think we wouldn’t have been able to pull off this day without her in the final. I took over when a few riders tried to attack; I followed and was basically on the front until halfway up the final little blip, which really killed the legs.”

Zoe elaborated further on how valuable Justyna’s contribution was.

“There was a lot of wind in those last kilometres and I think if it had been me doing all of that, especially with the road being quite rolling, I wouldn’t have been able to push it as much. At the end, she was like ‘yeah, I thought I messed up and didn’t do good’, but I said to her ‘you literally made the whole lead-out possible because you kept us out of the wind’. She kept us in the wheels, protected, so big credit to her.”

With several riders attempting late opportunistic attacks inside the final 2.5km, Zoe set a high, race-neutralising tempo at the front of the peloton before the FDJ-UNITED Suez lead-out train surged forward with 700m remaining.

Positioned in second wheel, Chiara exploded into action with 150m to go and immediately opened a decisive gap after her first powerful pedal strokes. A deceptively tough 3% gradient dragged out the sprint duration, but she never faltered, nor did her rivals draw closer. She crossed the line with several bike lengths in hand, punching the air in celebration as she let out cries of delight.

It was a victory that ultimately never looked in doubt, even if Chiara admitted she was uncertain about how she would measure up against strong competitors such as Balsamo (LTK) and Wollaston (TFS), who completed the podium.

“I was a bit anxious this morning, but I felt super good after the final training camp that we did in Spain, so I’m really looking forward to the classics now.”

Before Chiara can fully turn her attention to her favoured races in Belgium, there is still one more day of the Vuelta a Extremadura to race. Sunday’s final stage presents an opportunity for the climbers; a demanding 139.3km route featuring several long ascents with stinging gradients, totalling more than 2700m of elevation gain.

The general classification is likely to undergo a major shake-up. Zoe will start the stage in the leader’s jersey, but will look to support Antonia Niedermaier, who sits well placed in fifth overall at 33 seconds, ahead of the terrain that really plays to her strengths.

Like today, Sunday will also be a double race-day for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto. While one WorldTeam squad recovers after the brutal Strade Bianche, a Generation line-up will take over Italian duties and begin their 2026 programme at Trofeo Oro on the Tuscan Coast. The line-up consists of Jule Märkl, Awen Roberts, Erja Bianchi, Tsige Kahsay Kiros and Weronika Wașaty, with the Polish rider stepping in as a late replacement for an unwell Joëlle Messemer.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Stage 3 – Vuelta a Extremadura | Stage 3 | Sun, March 8 | 139.3km | 2724m elevation | Start 10:00 CET – fastest finish 13:40.

Trofeo Oro in Euro | UCI 1.1 | Sun, March 8 | 106.1km | 827m elevation | Start 13:30 CET – fastest finish 16:00.

Live coverage will be available for both races on YouTube via Sportpublic TV and Toscana Sprint respectively.