01.05.2025 World-Tour, News, Race news

LA VUELTA FEMENINA BEGINS THE BIG TOUR SEASON

La Vuelta Femenina marks a distinct shift in the cycling season, and one that’s hotly anticipated by many. While we’ve seen a few stage races in January and February, the focus now pivots to multi-day events, with the occasional one-day race sprinkled in.

Navigating this sharp turn in the season for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto will be Neve Bradbury, Justyna Czapla, Chloé Dygert, Nastya Kolesava, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, and Maike van der Duin.

After an intense and tumultuous spring racing block, Kasia shares her thoughts on transitioning into La Vuelta Femenina:

“It all just happens so quickly, all the big races, one after another, week in and week out, and then you move straight into stage races. Personally, maybe it’s a little easier for me because I know I’m not targeting La Vuelta, so I’m going there hoping to use my form to help others. If you’re targeting La Vuelta, you definitely need to adjust your training – not just focusing on the Classics and short efforts, but making sure you spend enough time preparing for the long mountains.

She is especially excited about the start of this year’s edition, with the race kicking off in Barcelona:

“We don’t have to travel far to get there, and we have a nice TTT. I wish it was a bit longer, but yeah – it’s going to be spicy, it’s going to burn, and it’s going to hurt… especially with Chloé on the front.”

Approaching La Vuelta with a slightly different mindset than her classics-focused efforts, Kasia explains her ambitions:

“I’m coming to La Vuelta in a supportive role, hoping to share my experience and approach with the riders in the GC fight. After spring, I wouldn’t say I feel huge disappointment, but there’s a sense of lack of satisfaction – like I’m chasing that feeling of reward or knowing things went well. I really hope we can achieve that during La Vuelta. We have a great team, super diverse, not just climbers, so I think we’ll be able to play interesting roles, improve day by day, and take lessons from each stage. Ultimately, I want us to have a great week of racing in Spain. I don’t want to experience another wasted opportunity or wasted day. We’re going there with the mindset to seize it all.”

Following the typical La Vuelta Femenina playbook, the race steadily ramps up in daily load – starting with a lung-and-leg-busting yet quick team time trial (TTT) on Sunday and culminating in the Queen stage next Saturday: a 152 kilometre adventure with nearly 3000 metres of climbing. In between, the distance and elevation increase almost daily, with the seven stages spanning the entire northern width of Spain – plotted from the Catalan coast to the Asturian summits. In total, riders will cover 751.5 kilometres and ascend 10,329 metres before crossing the finish line on the climactic final stage.

STAGE BREAKDOWN

Since 2022, when the women’s version of La Vuelta, then called the Ceratizit Challenge, expanded to more than four stages, a TTT has been contested as the gran partida. This year’s TTT will be set in the beating heart of Barcelona, beginning and ending on the bustling Passeig de Gracia. Teams will zoom along Avinguda Diagonal on an 8km course that’s relatively straightforward and fast, with time differences likely to be razor-thin.

Stage two moves to the outskirts of the city and is tipped as a breakaway opportunity, with the Alto de la Creu de L’Aragall (9km at 4.3%) coming almost straight off the start line. Thin ribbons of road twist through the coastal hills, giving opportunists a reason to believe. On the other hand, it could come back for a bunch sprint, but how many riders will still be in contention?

Stage three might be the day crosswinds wreak havoc. La Vuelta Femenina is quickly earning a reputation for at least one stage dictated by the wind, and this could be the one to either erode or bolster morale – especially for those hoping to contest the general classification. Alternatively, it might just end in a large bunch sprint.

Stage four is something of an enigma. It reintroduces climbing after the flatter terrain of the previous day, with two categorised ascents of steady gradients that will keep chains tight, but its make-up could also allow riders to claw back lost time afterwards. It’s the prelude to two decisive days of GC reshuffling.

Stage five features two categorised climbs, including the iconic Lagunas de Neila (6.5km at 9.1%) – a summit that shows no mercy, made famous by multiple appearances in the Vuelta a Burgos. It would be rude not to mention its precursor, which is actually just the first 3.8km of the Lagunas climb. Gradients spike to 12–14% at regular intervals along the entire ascent, so spare a thought for the domestiques who empty their tanks for the team just to reach the base.

Stage six, on paper, offers some relief with fewer kilometres and minimal elevation – a day for the faster legs to be unleashed. Like stage three however, wind could be a wildcard and unravel the hard classification-setting work of the day prior. The final 20km also feature a few innocuous-looking rises, including a 1.1km lump at 6% with 4km to go. Mild on the course profile, but if fatigue sets in, weary riders could be distanced.

Stage seven. Wow, deep breath. Proudly marketed as the hardest route ever served by La Vuelta Femenina, and we’re not about to argue. The second half of the stage features a trio of torment, all starting with C: the Alto de la Colladona (5.5km at 7.4%), the Alto de la Colladiella (7km at 7.7%), and finally, turning off the valley road, the Alto de Cotobello. This colossus measures 10.5km at 8% and although its gradients aren’t as sharp as Lagunas de Neila, the climb will feel never-ending.

It’s set to be a mammoth day through the stunning yet unforgiving Asturian mountains, capping off a huge La Vuelta Femenina 2025.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage is available on RTVE (Spain), Eurosport/ Discovery Plus, TNT Sports, FloBikes (Canada), SBS (Australia), and other national broadcasters. Follow the race each day on X using #LaVueltaFemenina and #UCIWWT, and stay updated with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto via our social channels.

Overview