Full Breakdown
Vuelta Femenina 2026: Van der Breggen’s Red Jersey Seized by Blasi on the Angliru
5/9/2026, 11:29:42 PM
Stage 6 – Les Praeres: Van der Breggen Claims Red Jersey
Stage 6 covered 106.5 km and finished on a 3.7-km climb averaging 13.4 % with sections up to 27 % gradient. A four-rider breakaway (Gaia Masetti, Sterre Vervloet, Marine Allione, Elisa Valtulini) built a five-minute lead before being reeled in on the final ascent. Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) attacked on the steepest part, opened a gap, and rode solo to the line. She finished eight seconds ahead of Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) and 29 seconds ahead of Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike), moving from fourth overall to the race lead and taking the red leader’s jersey.
Stage 7 – Alto de l’Angliru: Blasi Overturns GC Lead
The final stage featured the inaugural women’s summit finish on the Alto de l’Angliru, with gradients reaching 20 % and a reputation for brutal ramps. A three-rider breakaway (Femke Markus, Riejanne Markus, Liane Lippert) formed early; Lippert later went solo before being caught on the climb. Petra Stiasny (Human Powered Health) attacked in the closing kilometres, winning the stage by 23 seconds over Blasi. Blasi, who had stayed with the leaders, finished second and gained enough time to overturn Van der Breggen’s 18-second advantage, winning the overall classification by 24 seconds.
Key Riders and Teams
- Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) – Dutch GC contender, stage 6 winner.
- Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) – Spanish rider, stage 7 runner-up, overall winner.
- Petra Stiasny (Human Powered Health) – Swiss rider, stage 7 victor.
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) – Retained points (green) jersey.
- Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) – Youth classification winner.
Timeline of the Final Two Stages
1. Stage 6 – Les Praeres: Early breakaway -> peloton controls -> Van der Breggen attacks on steep section -> wins, takes red jersey.
2. Stage 7 – Angliru: Early breakaway of three -> Lippert solo -> Stiasny attacks on final climb -> wins stage; Blasi passes Van der Breggen -> secures overall victory.
Data & Statistics
- Stage 6: 106.5 km; final climb 3.7 km, avg 13.4 %, max 27 % (some reports cite 23 %).
- Stage 6 gaps: Van der Breggen +0 s, Blasi +8 s, Bunel +29 s.
- Stage 7: Angliru gradients up to 20 %; rain-affected.
- Stage 7 gaps: Stiasny +0 s, Blasi +23 s, Van der Breggen +24 s overall.
Official Statements & Responses
Van der Breggen described the Les Praeres ascent as “unprecedented” and noted she was still feeling the effects of a crash from the previous day but recovered enough to ride “normally.” Blasi, after overtaking the leader, said she “could not believe” her performance and emphasized the emotional weight of the victory. Stiasny called her stage win “a dream” and expressed disbelief at achieving it on a climb she had long anticipated. Team spokespeople for SD Worx highlighted Van der Breggen’s focus on the GC, while UAE Team ADQ praised Blasi’s resilience after earlier crashes. Human Powered Health celebrated Stiasny’s breakthrough on the iconic Angliru.
Criticism & Concerns Over the Final Climb
Riders and observers flagged the extreme gradients—up to 27 % on Les Praeres and 20 % on Angliru—as a safety issue, especially under rain. Crashes involving Maëva Squiban, Mavi García, and Blasi herself underscored the risk. Some commentators questioned whether such brutal climbs are appropriate for women’s Grand Tours, urging organizers to balance challenge with rider safety.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It was a really hard day. A climb like this, I think I’ve never seen that before,” — Anna van der Breggen
- “I actually wasn’t feeling so good in the beginning of the race because I could still feel the crash from yesterday, but it was getting better and better.” — Anna van der Breggen
- “The climb was special. It started steep and it finished steep. I just tried to get a good pace. You need to pace it well, but it’s also not that long today, tomorrow is way longer. I tried to do well, and luckily, it was enough in the end,” — Anna van der Breggen
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the maximum gradient of the Les Praeres climb: some cite 27 % while others report 23 %. The steepness of the Angliru is described generally as “up to 20 %,” without a precise maximum. No source provides the exact start time of the stages, leaving a minor chronological gap.
