PODIUM START FOR CHIARA AT VUELTA A BURGOS

This podium signals a strong return to racing for Chiara, who last pinned on a number at Paris-Roubaix Femmes, and has since been in full training mode with the Giro d’Italia in sight. She was pleased to begin the four-day stage race on such a positive note:

“I’m really happy, I have to say. I wasn’t scared, but I didn’t know what to expect because I was more than three weeks without racing. But, I knew that we did really good work during the training camp. I think the girls also did a really good lead-out. We checked the last part [of the course] yesterday, and we knew where to go, so everybody could do their job well. So yeah, I’m really happy about this second place, and to be back sprinting in races. Let’s see how tomorrow goes!”

Under bright sunshine and 26-degree heat, a hungry peloton packed with fast finishers assembled in front of the striking Burgos Cathedral, ready for a meandering and gently undulating 127km loop. The first two stages of this tour are designed with sprinters in mind, while Saturday will bring a more demanding elevation profile that could open things up. Sunday, however, is an entirely different story, with a brutal 6km finishing climb, averaging 10%.

By comparison, the stage one parcours featured only minor difficulties, most notably the Alto Ermita de las Mercedes (1.2km at 6.7%) with 70km to go. Although gradients peaked at 11.7%, the climb was handled conservatively by a composed peloton. Teams were content to allow a two-rider break to hover at around two minutes after escaping within the opening 20km.

Gradually, the intent of those at the head of the peloton began to intensity. Inside the final 10km, with the breakaway already mopped up, the peloton fully committed to the inevitable bunch sprint. Wide arterial roads in the closing kilometres created bedlam and disarray, with riders fighting to hold position as the peloton descended into the all-too-familiar ‘washing machine’ effect.

Amid the chaotic cycles, a powerful CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto unit came together in aid of Chiara. Wilma Aintila, Zoe Bäckstedt, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka and Maike van der Duin all played key roles in protecting and positioning the team’s designated fast finisher.

Zoe delivered a particularly huge turn at the front, storming through a critical roundabout inside the final 2km, her raw power stretching and thinning out the peloton. Agnieszka then took over approaching the flamme rouge, before Maike tore up the right-hand side with 300m to go. Chiara benefited from an extra rider between herself and Maike, providing a small but valuable buffer of protection. With 150m remaining, the Italian darted through a narrowing gap and powered up the middle, edging ahead of three rivals on the line to win the tight tussle for second.