Stage 6

17| Demi VOLLERING

Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “The headwind made such a difference”

I felt really good today. The final climb was a bit more difficult than yesterday because of the headwind. It made such a difference whether you were at the front or behind someone, and of course it’s way easier to climb on the wheel of someone else. I couldn’t get rid of Évita, so it’s a deserved win for her.

We can’t assume that we are winning the GC, because it just takes a crash or some mishap for everything to be over. My team and I need to stay focused. A strong breakaway can make things difficult, as was indeed the case today...

Stage 6

71| Evita MUZIC

Évita Muzic (FDJ-SUEZ): “I’m very proud of what I have done”

“I said before the stage that I wanted to stay on Demi’s wheel and then overtake her in the final meters, but I wasn’t 100% sure that I could do it. When I looked back and I saw that I was the only one on her wheel, I started focusing on not getting dropped. Finally, I came around her. I’m very proud of what I have done. All my teammates did a really good job all race long to keep me in a good position, and then Grace Brown did the lead-out in the first part of the climb. They were amazing, and this win is also for them. This victory means a lot to...

Stage 5

93| Lourdes OYARBIDE JIMENEZ

Lourdes Oyarbide (Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi): “Everybody wanted to be in today’s breakaway”

I believe everybody wanted to be in today’s breakaway, and that made things very complicated out there. It was our goal as a team, and it was very hard to actually make it as many GC teams were controlling every attempt. I was only able to go clear in the last possible moment, and out of sheer persistence. It was a short-lived breakaway, but at least I showed my team’s outfit at the head of the race and I got the most aggressive rider award, which is always nice.

Stage 5

101| Mavi GARCIA CAÑELLAS

Mavi García (Liv-AlUla-Jayco): “My legs are not working as I expected”

I thought I was much better than I actually was. I just exploded in the final climb. My legs are not working as I expected. I guess I paid today for yesterday’s efforts, as I spent a lot of time with my nose in the wind, chasing, and that takes its toll. I was hoping to be in a much better position in this Vuelta Femenina. I was indeed feeling well throughout the stage, the first climb included… yet in the end I was not where I meant to be.

Stage 5

47| Karlijn SWINKELS

Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ): “if you don’t try, you don’t win”

I tried my best. It was a nice race and I’m happy I claimed some points for the Mountains classification in order to keep the polka dot jersey. After the climb, I gave the lone breakaway a go because you never know what may happen when you go on the attack – if you don’t try, you don’t win. My legs feel bad after the stage… [laughs] … but it’s also good, because it means we keep trying to play the game with the girls. I have lost a lot of time today, so I hope to be able to go in the breakaway in the coming days in order to...

Stage 5

17| Demi VOLLERING

Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime): “I want to keep the Red jersery until the very end”

I felt really strong this season, but I hadn’t been able to win as of yet. I stood in some podiums, but victory was taking too long. I am very happy I could take it here. Last year I had this beautiful Dutch national champion jersey already, but I couldn’t win with it as most days I was wearing the UCI Women’s WorldTour leader jersey. Getting at least one victory in this beautiful jersey was a goal for the year. I’m really happy I made it. Now I’m getting the Red jersey, which is very pretty too, and I want to keep it until the very end. As...

Stage 4

5| Sheyla GUTIERREZ RUIZ

Sheyla Gutiérrez (Movistar Team): “Disappointed in the best possible way”

It has been a super tough day. I felt as if I was riding a high-speed train. We went full gas despite the strong wind because there were many favorites at the front looking forward to gain some time on those who have missed the split. I tried to help my teammates make the front group, yet they got dropped because this is how echelons work: you lose half a meter and you lose everything. I was able to be there and I am feeling disappointed in the best possible way, because I’ve been fighting for victory and ‘just’ could be 5th, which is actually a nice...

Stage 4

15| Marlen REUSSER

Marlen Reusser (Team SD Worx-Protime): “I’m missing 5% of my best shape”

The strong group at the front was formed pretty quickly. We had 6 out of the 19 riders at the front, so the move was ideal for us. We knew that there were going to be echelons all day long, so we kept pushing for this one to go up the road. Towards the final, we knew we had to play our strength in numbers. Mischa [Bredewold] and Demi [Vollering] attacked, and I went with [Kristen] Faulkner but I just couldn’t follow her on the decisive hill. I think I’m not back yet on my 100% shape after Covid and that Flanders crash. I really missed the right move for my team....

Stage 4

61| Marianne VOS

Marianne Vos (Visma | Lease a Bike): “Faulkner was the strongest”

It was a tough day. Everybody at the front that it was going to be windy and that echelons will be formed. It was really good to have Riejanne [Markus] and Sophie [von Berswordt] with me at the front, to ride along with me and help keeping the same group all the way to the final. We fell short of getting the stage win because the attack from [Kristen] Faulkner was just too strong. We just couldn’t catch her after the climb. She was the strongest. Taking the Red jersey was not our objective for today, but we are happy to be in this position.

Stage 4

144| Kristen FAULKNER

Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Cannondale): “A bit of luck and a bit of planning”

We came here hunting for stages, and we have scored two already. It’s still early in La Vuelta Femenina and we are already proud of what we have achieved so far. We all fought for position ahead of La Yunta (km 18,5), and as soon as we got out of the town SD Worx accelerated. Luckily, we were in good position and could stay and cooperate with the group. At some point the gap came down to 30” and we kept riding together to bring it back up. I knew I wanted to do a last-minute attack and that the small climb in the outskirts of Zaragoza was ideal for it. I actually...