Paula Blasi Claims First Grand Tour Victory at Vuelta Femenina

Paula Blasi Claims First Grand Tour Victory at Vuelta Femenina

Spanish cyclist Paula Blasi celebrated a remarkable victory at the Vuelta a Espana, marking her first Grand Tour triumph. The 23-year-old rider from UAE Team ADQ entered the final day in second place overall, trailing Anna van der Breggen of Team SD Worx-Protime. As the race progressed, van der Breggen, a four-time Giro d'Italia champion, struggled on the final brutal ascent, which featured slopes reaching 23%. Blasi managed to maintain her pace, ultimately finishing the final stage in second place behind Petra Stiasny of Human Powered Health at the summit of L'Angliru. This performance secured her overall title. Blasi's victory solidifies her reputation as an emerging talent in women's cycling, having previously won the Amstel Gold Race and showcased impressive performances at La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Reflecting on her unexpected success, Blasi remarked, "I would think you were joking," when asked how she would have reacted to the prediction of her winning the Vuelta. The decisive moment of the tour occurred four kilometers from the finish line, as Marion Bunel launched an attack. Blasi kept pace, while van der Breggen fell behind. The climb of L'Angliru, known as one of cycling's most challenging routes, was featured for the first time in the women’s Vuelta. After her victory, Blasi described the climb as "crazy," emphasizing the mental strategy she employed: "The best thing I could do was not think about it." She noted, "I started to see Anna [van der Breggen] struggling and I said 'let's go for it'." In the final standings, Anna van der Breggen finished second overall, while Marion Bunel, a 21-year-old from Team Visma Lease a Bike, secured third place.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-09