I’ve felt quite good. It’s been yet another flat, windy stage. We did some great teamwork as we pulled off the strategy of pulling hard during the last climb to make as small a selection as possible. Furthermore, we got a 2nd place at the finish for our teammate Emma Norsgaard, who is back in the races after her crash in Strade Bianche. We are very happy with how the race has played out so far, and now it’s time for the defining stages. We are enjoying La Vuelta Femenina by Carrefour.es and its beautiful course.

It was a really nervous, hard day after yesterday’s echelons. There was some wind and I think every team was prepared as if something would happen. Then, of course, with the climbs coming up, all the teams wanted to be in front and all the GC riders wanted to be there. In the first attack with the leaders, they got quite a big gap, so our team took control and the girls did a really good job to bring that down. From then on, it was about trying to stay in front and to maintain the control of the group. I want to thank my team because they did an excellent job at controlling...

In the beginning of the stage, it was pretty slow, but as soon as we hit roads where it was sidewind and crosswinds, echelons started and the whole day was really full-gas echelons riding! A really tough stage, and I think many riders missed out on it. The race was expected to be much easier than it was in the end. There was one strong pull and the first group want away, and the second time was after the intermediate sprint, where it again cracked and there was a second group dropped. Team DSM really tried to keep the speed, and also Marianne (Vos, Team Jumbo-Visma) had...

We didn’t expect the race to be this hard. It was a really long day, and for 100 kilometres we rode full gas because of the wind. That created some echelons and, even if we tried to maintain a small gap with the front group, we lost some time. Anyway, the race isn’t over yet. Tomorrow’s race is going to be a hilly one, with a nice climb at the end. I will try to anticipate and make my move earlier in order to help my team’s GC leaders. We are going to try and protect them ahead of the last climb.

After racing a TTT the first day, the first road stage can be a bit chaotic as everybody is fresh, motivated and excited to go for the stage win. There was a lot and not so much going on at the same time. The bunch kept very good control of the breakaway and we just had to stay focused and keep ourselves at the front. I'm very happy and proud of how the team rode today, and how they brought me safely into the final. That was the big goal today... along with, of course, sprinting for the win. Taking the leader jersey was not the main goal today, but of course it is really...