2026-05-05T15:15:24.037Z<\/p>\n
The chase is stretched out a real desperate pursuit, but the French rider could have this, she’s done it before.<\/p>\n
2026-05-05T15:14:46.281Z<\/p>\n
Ef Education Oatly made their move, Cedrine Kerbaol attacking and getting a gap. She can do this.<\/p>\n
2026-05-05T15:13:23.157Z<\/p>\n
Letizia Paternoster is being led out by her Liv-Alula-Jayco team mate as we bump along the cobbles.<\/p>\n
2026-05-05T15:12:43.157Z<\/p>\n
The race has reformed and around 25 riders are together as we enter the final 3km.<\/p>\n
2026-05-05T15:11:56.195Z<\/p>\n
Another attack from Visma, but we’re descending a wide road so it’s tough to make a difference. Mavi Garc\u00eda leads. But not by a lot.<\/p>\n
2026-05-05T15:10:42.827Z<\/p>\n
Descending now and we’ll be on the cobbles soon. They were used in O Gran Camino recently and caused plenty of punctures.<\/p>\n
5km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:09:36.670Z<\/p>\n It looks like Kopeck\u00fd and Kopecky are dropped, but Niewiadoma-Phinney is caught as another attacks goes, this time form Visma-Lease a Bike.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:08:11.552Z<\/p>\n There are about 30 women in the leading group as Niewiadoma-Phinneyy attacks again.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:07:27.873Z<\/p>\n Julia Kopeck\u00fd lead for SD Worx now, can her namesake and team mate repay the Czech rider’s work?<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:06:31.077Z<\/p>\n Still Faulkner dangles off the front but no, she’s caught, SD Worx controlling on yet another little rise.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:05:33.427Z<\/p>\n But FDJ have come to lend a hand and Faulkner is almost caught, though she’s not giving up.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:04:52.384Z<\/p>\n Faulkner is still out front, with a handful of seconds, SD Worx are still doing the work. The undulating terrain suits the Olympic champion perfectly.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:03:45.142Z<\/p>\n More riders are coming back now. 2026-05-05T15:03:01.375Z<\/p>\n SD Worx head to the front en masse to bring the American rider to heel.<\/p>\n 10km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:01:44.309Z<\/p>\n And another attack, Kristen Faulkner (EF Education-Oatly) attacks and gets a gap, Remember the Paris Olympics? Can she do that again?<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T15:00:51.323Z<\/p>\n Overall leader Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) is dropped, though other group is coming back to the leaders, including Koch and Lotte Kopecky.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:59:46.764Z<\/p>\n Amstel Gold Race winner, Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) lifts the pace, but nothing’s sticking and a group of about 25 are at a the front.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:58:29.109Z<\/p>\n More attacks from the leading group of about 12 riders, though riders are coming back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:57:40.436Z<\/p>\n Attack on the climb from Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypoto) the Polish champion is really stretching things out here.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:56:39.547Z<\/p>\n More riders dropped from the bunch as a furious pace is set on this climb. Wilson-Haffenden is one of them, slipping back after a tough day out and a great ride.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:55:33.473Z<\/p>\n We’re on yet another one of the small climbs now, the one which may prove a good attacking point and Wilson-Haffenden is caught.<\/p>\n \n Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Team Lidl – Trek) talks with Lidl-Trek sports director Jeroen Blijlevens during stage 2 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:53:39.393Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden is within touching distance of the peloton now, the race is really on.<\/p>\n 15km<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:52:12.493Z<\/p>\n And Wilson-Haffenden makes it through the sprint, winning 6 bonus seconds, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) takes 4 and Koch 2 seconds.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:51:05.881Z<\/p>\n The Australian rider should hang on for the sprint, though the peloton will be hot on her heels.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:50:33.228Z<\/p>\n Just a handful of seconds now for Wilson-Haffenden as she approaches the intermediate sprint in Arteixo.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:46:49.213Z<\/p>\n The pace in the bunch is such that some very decent riders have been dropped, the last descent and the ensuing climb causing some damage.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:45:28.673Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden’s lead is now only 1.12 as the peloton get ready for the intermediate sprint, where it seems the bunch may be eyeing the bonus seconds on offer.<\/p>\n 20km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:41:12.065Z<\/p>\n It’s not looking so good for Wilson-Haffenden now, her gap is down to only 1.20.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:36:15.637Z<\/p>\n Now the bunch lifts the pace, the FDJ team of race leader, Franziska Koch on the front, reducing the gap to 1.41. 2026-05-05T14:34:19.912Z<\/p>\n Van Dam has done well in northern Spain before, taking 3rd overall at Itzulia Women after finishing second on the stage into San Sebasti\u00e9n last year.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:32:09.878Z<\/p>\n Visma-Lease a Bike have dual aims here, first to keep their GC leader, Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot safe, but secondly to protect Sarah Van Dam, who could do very well here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:30:55.527Z<\/p>\n Vervloet is caught and dropped by the bunch led by the yellow jerseys of the Visma-Lease a bike team. 30km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:26:42.951Z<\/p>\n We’re on another little climb now, and we’ll see the seas very soon, the race following the coast with the sea on their left.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:24:19.259Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden is nailing it now, a former Junior time trial World Champion, she’s also the current Australian TT champ.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:19:18.672Z<\/p>\n This is a great ride from Wilson-Haffenden. Vervloet is well and truly dropped now, while the Lidl-Trek rider has increased her lead to 2.15.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:17:53.318Z<\/p>\n We’ve already climbed around 1300 of the 2000m on today’s stage, it’s lumpy from here on in, no big climbs, but six of them making life difficult.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:14:04.816Z<\/p>\n The bunch is beginning to turn the screw once more, a variety of teams now on the front as Vervloet drifts off Wilson-Haffenden’s wheel and the gap slips below two minutes once more.<\/p>\n 40km to go <\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:09:30.750Z<\/p>\n An interesting change at the front of the peloton, with Liv-Alula-Jayco and Vini Fantini-Bepink leading the peloton alongside UAE Team ADQ. 2026-05-05T14:03:01.320Z<\/p>\n And now the gap has gone out again, it’s over two minutes, the peloton taking the chance to get rid of rain jackets, grab a bottle and the red jersey stop for a comfort break.<\/p>\n 49km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T14:00:41.376Z<\/p>\n There are a few climbs on the coast road. One in particular, with 15km to go, just after the intermediate sprint, could cause some issues, with short ramps of double digit gradients. 2026-05-05T13:55:04.566Z<\/p>\n Much of the road to the coast is downhill, so the pace is high but Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 Ladies) are being reeled back in quickly now, their advantage is down to only 1.09.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:50:38.493Z<\/p>\n The wind is just about what it was at the start, about 16km\/h from the north west, so it’ll be a decent cross tail wind when they hit the coast, this may well bring some action.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:47:51.885Z<\/p>\n We’re heading north now, towards the coast, reaching it 30km from the line. Then it’s basically east, along the coast.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:45:44.760Z<\/p>\n We’re more than halfway now and about to reach the highest point of today’s stage. It’s actually been almost all uphill from the start and we’re 502m above sea level. 60km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:39:23.577Z<\/p>\n Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) is leading the race overall, though she’s yet to win stage, she was third on stage 1 and second on stage 2. What are the chances she keeps her red jersey with a win today?<\/p>\n \n Franziska Koch (FDJ United – SUEZ) wears the overall leader’s red jersey during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:33:52.125Z<\/p>\n The gap has settled, the peloton have brought the breakaway too within reach and they now sit at 2.30 in front. They’re not likely to win, but that’s the beauty of cycling, you never know.<\/p>\n 70km to go <\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:25:21.785Z<\/p>\n With no classified climb on the route today, we do have an intermediate sprint, though it’s not until 16.7km to go. 2026-05-05T13:18:04.547Z<\/p>\n Enjoying our live race coverage? Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:15:30.855Z<\/p>\n The peloton are getting organised now and the gap has dropped below three minutes.<\/p>\n \n The peloton competing during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina between Padron to A Coruna. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:09:44.588Z<\/p>\n This is a strong and mature ride from the two escapees. 80km to go<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T13:05:12.876Z<\/p>\n But we could have another sprint on our hands. Yesterday’s was very dramatic, with Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) relegated for an irregular sprint.<\/p>\n “If I start a sprint tomorrow I would do exactly the same,” she said afterwards. <\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-05T13:01:03.882Z<\/p>\n There are now two groups on the road, Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead the peloton by 3.44, the race rolling at an average speed of about 36km\/h.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:58:00.828Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden started the day 5.20 down on GC, while Vervloet was at 19.56, neither is a threat to the overall lead, will the bunch let them fight for the stage, or will the sprinters want another battle?<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:54:54.091Z<\/p>\n And it’s all change. 90km to go <\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:52:59.913Z<\/p>\n The two groups have been up the road a while now and still they’re separated, though the gap is coming down and they’re almost together. Garau is now the overall leader of the Vuelta on the road.<\/p>\n \n Marina Garau (Vini Fantini-BePink) leads a chasing group during stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina 2026. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:44:28.909Z<\/p>\n It’s proving harder than they hoped for G\u00e9gu, Ragusa and Garau to reach the leading pair, they’ve slipped back very slightly. 2026-05-05T12:41:28.073Z<\/p>\n Though she is on an Italian team, Garau is one of only eight Spanish riders who started the race on Sunday, partly because there are no Spanish Continental teams anymore. \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:38:23.639Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead the peloton by 2.19 with the chasers 20 seconds behind.<\/p>\n 100km to go <\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:33:36.266Z<\/p>\n The two groups are coming together now, it seems as though the leading pair are waiting for the chasers.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:29:20.885Z<\/p>\n But Garau’s group are not gaining time at the same pace as Wilson-Haffenden and Vervolet who are 2.15 ahead, while G\u00e9gu, Ragusa and Garau are only 1.33 in front of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:27:34.520Z<\/p>\n Marina Garau is the best placed breakaway rider in the breakaway, trailing Koch’s overall lead by 2.13. She might well be the virtual leader on the road very soon. 2026-05-05T12:20:48.646Z<\/p>\n With 110km to go Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet now lead the peloton by 1.35 with G\u00e9gu, Ragusa and Garau 35 seconds behind them.<\/p>\n The breakaway is formed<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:17:38.438Z<\/p>\n Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet are 49 seconds ahead with G\u00e9gu, Ragusa and Garau 14 seconds behind them. \ud83d\udde3\ufe0fLas chicas del @MayenneCycling tienen un objetivo: ser protagonistas de la fuga del d\u00eda \u2694\ufe0f 2026-05-05T12:13:49.732Z<\/p>\n Medical update on Eleonora \ud83c\udfe5 2026-05-05T12:12:29.748Z<\/p>\n Now Justine G\u00e9gu (Mayenne-Monbana-My Pie) has set off in pursuit of the leaders, with Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health) and Marina Garau (Vini Fantini-Bepink) joining her.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:08:50.094Z<\/p>\n With only two kilometres done we have two riders away, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 Ladies) have 18 seconds.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:07:11.331Z<\/p>\n We had 118 riders start the stage today, Noemi R\u00fcegg wasn’t the only one to leave the race after yesterday’s stage. They join a growing list of riders dropping out of the 2026 race. <\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-05T12:03:22.522Z<\/p>\n We’re racing, with 121.2km ahead of us.<\/p>\n The flag drops<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T12:02:27.140Z<\/p>\n Our race leader, Fransika Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) and stage two winner Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) before the roll out.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T11:58:24.253Z<\/p>\n There’s little change in the weather from previous stages, with a maximum temperature forecast at around 15\u00ba, some rain and winds up to around 18km\/h from the north-west. That could cause some issues in the bunch as we run along the coast later.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T11:56:18.487Z<\/p>\n And we’re rolling for 4km of neutralised riding before the stage gets going proper.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T11:55:50.801Z<\/p>\n The organisers describe the day as flat, and admittedly there are no classified climbs, but…<\/p>\n It’s a day for the opportunists with relentless climbing on the roads to A Coru\u00f1a.<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-05T11:54:27.296Z<\/p>\n Riders are already heading to the start, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) doesn’t look too happy with the weather.<\/p>\n \n Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx-Protime) prior to stage 3 of the 2026 La Vuelta Femenina. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T11:52:16.589Z<\/p>\n Today’s stage is another tough one, with more than 2,000m of vertical ascent. We roll out from the town of Padr\u00f3n at 14:00 Spanish time, and finish in A Coru\u00f1a 121.2km later.<\/p>\n 2026-05-05T11:45:52.775Z<\/p>\n It was a difficult day for EF Education-Oatly though.<\/p>\n Their Former Swiss champion, Noemi R\u00fcegg started the day in the leader’s red jersey, but crashed out of the race. \n Noemi Ruegg of Switzerland (EF Education-Oatly) wears the red leader’s jersey at the Vuelta Femenina 2026 (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-05T11:39:08.637Z<\/p>\n Yesterday was another gripping, enthralling day, with many a tale to being told.<\/p>\n Shari Bossuyt the dramatic stage 2 sprint as Franziska Koch takes second place and the overall lead.<\/a><\/p>\n \n Shari Bossuyt (Team AG Insurance-Soudal) celebrates after winning stage 2 of the 2026 Vuelta Femenina in San Cibrao das Vinas. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski\/Getty Images) (Image credit: Getty Images) Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of stage three of the Vuelta Espa\u00f1a Femenina.<\/p>\n
The final 6km are a roller coaster. Largely downhill, there are nine roundabouts, a short stretch of cobbles and a right turn at about 600m to go. From there it’s slightly uphill too!<\/p>\n![\"Felicity](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/4Vrhusvc6JKVQRJBUjUC4N.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"Felicity](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Li7VhfQYnm5uaAzvy7UeCH.jpg\")
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Whatever happens this is a great ride from Wilson-Haffenden.<\/p>\n
Wilson-Haffenden’s advantage remains around the two minute mark.<\/p>\n
The gap sits around the two minute mark.<\/p>\n
It’s a great place to attack, especially with that cross tail wind.<\/p>\n![\"Sterre](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/oNUHd5qgztgTJcz8j6EhNc.jpg\")
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Wilson-Haffenden and Vervloet lead by 1.53.<\/p>\n![\"Franziska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ZyBk4BoM89Pgt9fEnqqC8d.jpg\")
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The brakaway’s advantage continues to drop, it’s now only 2.35.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/8PJFJSQMoXox8biXUFgtRM.jpg\")
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Wilson-Haffenden is only 20, while Vervloet is just 22-years-old.
They lead the peloton by 3.11.<\/p>\n![\"Mischa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SvSFg3SmsusocCAwZYqky.jpg\")
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Garua’s group have seven up the ghost, sat up and are heading back to the bunch.
Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 Ladies) lead the peloton by 3.10.<\/p>\n![\"Marina](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/KSpeQZ5zzpdv5Df8vfDWi6.jpg\")
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Will they even get there?<\/p>\n
We investigated the state of women’s pro cycling in Spain, La Vuelta is thriving but the lower levels are struggling. <\/a><\/p>\n![\"SALVATERRA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/oXdwXNWFUnj8yZYzrSjWvF.jpg\")
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Her Vini Fantini-Bepink team is the lowest ranked team in the race and the only third division, Continental squad.<\/p>\n
It seems the Mayenne team were looking for the breakaway today.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\udc4a The Mayenne Monbana My Pie girls have one goal: be part of breakaway of the day! #LaVueltaFemenina pic.twitter.com\/1PssmwGP51May 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
\nAfter the stage yesterday, Eleonora Ciabocco went for multiple checks and scans at the hospital, with the final one revealing what our medical team suspected – that she unfortunately suffered some broken bones in the crash \ud83d\ude14
\nShe therefore won\u2019t\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/49co4lx9NAMay 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n
Eleonora Ciabocco (Picnic-PostNL) and Margot Vanpachtenbeke (Lidl-Trek) have also withdrawn overnight.<\/p>\n![\"SALVATERRA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/pFXdJZhE6k7XvEDP7pY2F3.jpg\")
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\n<\/p>\n![\"Franziska](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dLZYiPffSosRQh3pjvRNvD.jpg\")
\n<\/p>\n![\"SAN-CIBRAO-DAS-VINAS,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6guTX6ER63wALcJrUSLB6o.jpg\")
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\n<\/p>\n![\"Anna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hoTHRJfs3vAVqUXoZScWy6.jpg\")
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She’s since been diagnosed with a broken shoulder.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Noemi](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/6xYb9WmuLJUJ5WzUMtjiNJ.jpg\")
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\n<\/p>\n![\"Shari](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mYgMe5AA4ghHgvBa6PoY8n.jpg\")
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