2026-05-08T16:09:09.166Z<\/p>\n
And here’s our full report from a brutal day in Asturias:<\/p>\n
Vuelta Femenina: Anna van der Breggen routs rivals on steep slopes of Les Praeres for stage 6 victory and moves into GC lead<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T16:04:02.432Z<\/p>\n Here are the results from stage 6 of La Vuelta Feminina 2026, powered by FirstCycling.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T16:00:04.604Z<\/p>\n While Van der Breggen is queen of Les Praeres, we saw a bit of the future today, with break-out performances from 23-year-old Blasi and 21-year-old Bunel.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:58:37.188Z<\/p>\n The GC is far from over, with Blasi just 18 seconds off Van der Breggen’s lead heading into the final stage. Bunel is now third, 41 seconds down.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:57:34.045Z<\/p>\n Well today was all about the final 3.9km. Les Praeres served up a brutal finish and sets the scene for an even tougher final climb tomorrow up to the Alto de l’Angliru.<\/p>\n Anna van der Breggen kept her cool after Kerbaol moved early. The former world champion stuck to her own pace all the way up, never looking to follow others and keeping her cadence high. She looked superfluous.<\/p>\n Although Blasi and Bunel hung on for a significant period, neither could match the strength of Van der Breggen, who moves into the lead of the race.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T15:53:49.972Z<\/p>\n Kerbaol, sitting 3rd coming into the stage, finishes 1:45 down. Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot finished two minutes back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:52:41.621Z<\/p>\n Niewiadoma finishes over a minute behind.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:52:25.123Z<\/p>\n Third place for Bunel ahead of Berthet and Trinca Colonel.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:51:55.755Z<\/p>\n Blasi was second, 8 seconds behind.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:51:37.719Z Phenomenal victory for the SD Worx-ProTime rider.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:50:45.074Z<\/p>\n The lead remains around 10 seconds heading into the final few hundred metres.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:50:04.154Z<\/p>\n Blasi looks to be tiring now as her cadence slows. Van der Breggen’s has remained consistent throughout and is opening the gap.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:49:22.687Z Van der Breggen gets out of the saddle to grind out the last of her power.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:48:30.638Z<\/p>\n They are on the steep stuff again and Van der Breggen is looking good. Blasi is 10 seconds down.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:47:51.388Z However, Van der Breggen is certainly pulling clear now as they hit a short flat section.<\/p>\n The last 800 metres will kick up again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:47:04.159Z<\/p>\n A really impressive ride from Blasi here. She was untested on ascents like this before today.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:46:34.808Z<\/p>\n They are on the flatter section now, but if anything, Van der Breggen is stretching away again.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:45:49.489Z<\/p>\n Trinca Colonel has moved into 4th ahead of Berthet.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:45:23.338Z Blasi is slowly coming back to Van der Breggen. Very slowly.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:44:36.138Z<\/p>\n They are approaching a flatter section, which could be an opportunity for Blasi to get back to Van der Breggen, who is gritting her teeth.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:43:54.455Z<\/p>\n Bunel is dropping away from Blasi now after setting just off her wheel for much of this climb.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:43:23.988Z<\/p>\n Blasi is currently holding the gap behind Van der Breggen. She is not losing any more ground.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:42:45.826Z<\/p>\n Niewiadoma is sinking backwards and out of the top-10. Trinca Colonel is now leading a small group just behind Berthet.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:42:04.693Z This is impressive from Van der Breggen. She is locked into her rhythm and powering up this terrible climb.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:40:57.508Z<\/p>\n Van der Breggen has around ten seconds over Blasi, who is just ahead of Bunel.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:40:22.341Z<\/p>\n Behind, Berthet has overtaken Niewiadoma. Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot is way back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:39:48.425Z<\/p>\n The SD Worx-ProTime rider is streaking clear now, but Blasi and Bunel haven’t completely exploded yet.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:39:14.740Z<\/p>\n Van der Breggen accelerates on the steepest section and breaks Blasi.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:38:45.876Z<\/p>\n It’s one of the most decorated riders of all time up against two of the sport’s emerging talents.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:38:23.609Z<\/p>\n Blasi is glued to Van der Breggen’s wheel at the moment and Bunel is clawing her way back.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:38:01.425Z<\/p>\n Van de Breggen continues and Niewiadoma is dropped. The Polish champion is losing a lot of ground.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:37:30.423Z<\/p>\n Bunel just sitting a few bike-lengths off the front three. Berthet not far behind.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:36:50.573Z Van der Breggen is pulling Niewiadoma and Blasi clear with her. Bunel is not far off.<\/p>\n This climb is unrelentingly steep.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:35:42.160Z<\/p>\n Van der Breggen is setting a tough pace on the front here.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:35:27.625Z<\/p>\n Marion Bunel is there for Visma-Lease a Bike after working for Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:34:54.226Z<\/p>\n Van der Breggen has reeled Kerbaol in with Niewiadoma on the wheel. Blasi is there too with Moolman Pasio and Berthe.<\/p>\n Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot is dropped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:34:07.595Z<\/p>\n Van der Breggen and the others are sitting back, measuring their effort as Kerbaol invests energy early.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:33:32.945Z<\/p>\n These early pitches are the steepest on this climb.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:33:12.679Z<\/p>\n Kerbaol moves as soon as she gets to the climb. She has a small advantage and looks good.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:32:49.683Z Time for a brutal finish as the rain lashes down.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:32:22.280Z<\/p>\n Descending to the foot of the climb now.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:31:26.553Z It’s Marion Bunel working on the front. She’s one of only a few domestiques left.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:30:45.771Z<\/p>\n Another short dig before Las Praeres. The group has thinned to around 25.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:30:15.838Z<\/p>\n They are less than 2km from the climb now. Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot is perfectly placed, as are Kerbaol, Niewiadoma and Van der Breggen.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:29:23.904Z<\/p>\n The conditions are tough out there. This is going to make the final climb even more selective. The question is, who can deal with the weather the best?<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:28:14.439Z<\/p>\n Kopecky is also distanced.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:27:52.736Z<\/p>\n The riders are on a short but steep unclassified rise which is shredding the peloton.<\/p>\n Koch, sitting second overall, is dropped.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:25:11.990Z<\/p>\n The heavens have opened over the peloton. How will this impact things?<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:24:02.841Z<\/p>\n Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner is on the front now as EF Education-Oatly gather around Cedrine Kerbaol, who currently sits in third overall.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:22:49.719Z Multiple teams fighting for dominance on the front of the bunch now, with 6km to go to the foot of the climb.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:22:18.358Z<\/p>\n Confirmation then, if anyone needed it, that SD Worx-ProTime are working for Van der Breggen, as they’ve said they would do since the beginning of the race.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:21:41.607Z<\/p>\n Red jersey Kopecky is now pulling on the front of the peloton as the breakaway is caught.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:21:07.573Z<\/p>\n Crash in the peloton for Visma-Lease a Bike’s Sarah van Dam. The Canadian was sitting 6th overall coming into the stage, but wasn’t expected to challenge.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:19:49.156Z<\/p>\n Just 10 seconds for Masetti and Vervloet now.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:18:57.872Z<\/p>\n The end is near for this breakaway. The gap is now just 30 seconds as the peloton rail it on a wide, flat road.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:18:03.121Z<\/p>\n Lidl-Trek are really getting behind German climber Ricarda Bauernfeind today. The 26 year old currently sits in 17th overall, 32 seconds behind Kopecky.<\/p>\n Her team-mates are driving the peloton on en masse.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:16:05.357Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:13:28.254Z<\/p>\n The front group is breaking apart now, with Masetti and Vervloet getting ahead of Allione and Vantulini.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:12:42.386Z<\/p>\n It hasn’t been a tough day up to now. It’s been short too.<\/p>\n All of that will mean that the favourites will come into the final ascent feeling fresh and ready to set off fireworks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hold onto your hats.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:11:45.988Z<\/p>\n All the focus is now on this brutal final climb. Let’s look at the numbers. The Les Praeres climb is 3.9km long with an average gradient of 12.6%. That includes flatter sections near the top, with early parts of the climb hitting 17%.<\/p>\n This is going to be a savage end to the day.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:09:04.371Z<\/p>\n Koch and Bredewold have stopped pedalling altogether and are waiting for the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:08:41.072Z The lead has dropped to one minute over Koch and Bredewold, with the peloton 1:20 down.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:07:51.059Z<\/p>\n Koch and Bredewold have now stopped working, with Koch eating into Kopecky’s points lead.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:07:05.278Z<\/p>\n Bredewold beats Koch in the sprint behind, taking points in the points classification.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:05:46.884Z Gaia Masetti takes the bonus seconds and points.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:05:14.621Z<\/p>\n The Koch group has 20 seconds over the peloton, with EF Education First-Oatly leading the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:04:21.489Z<\/p>\n Koch knows she can’t challenge the very best on the climb, so she is seeking to take an advantage beforehand.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:03:40.418Z<\/p>\n Interesting move from the bunch as second place Franziska Koch escapes the bunch on a descent alongside team-mate Eva van Agt and Mischa Bredewold, who won the stage yesterday.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:02:39.602Z The gap is down to 1:44. Allione has rejoined the lead, but looks in trouble on this climb.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:01:32.336Z<\/p>\n The riders are on the climb to La Curciada.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:00:59.200Z<\/p>\n Allione has dropped off the back of the breakaway, but is making an effort to return.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T15:00:15.301Z<\/p>\n For the first time in a long time, the break’s advantage has dipped below two minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:55:41.073Z<\/p>\n 5km to go now until the bonus sprint.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:54:00.188Z<\/p>\n Gaia Realini is not having a good race, or season, for Lidl-Trek. The Italian is sitting near the back of the bunch on this ascent.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:53:05.852Z The break’s lead is melting away at the moment. It’s now 2:30.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:52:39.587Z<\/p>\n Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto are gathered around Niewiadoma on the right of the peloton. They haven’t invested much on the front of the bunch yet today.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:51:39.284Z<\/p>\n As the peloton hit the climb, a few riders are being tailed off. They include Alberte Greve from Uno-X Mobility, Picnic-PostNL’s Juliana Londo\u00f1a and Silvia Zanardi of Human Powered Health.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:50:07.637Z<\/p>\n The break are on a short unclassified climb. After this, they will descend to the foot of La Curciada, which will conclude with a bonus sprint. As it stands, this will be contested by the break, so no opportunities for GC action there.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:49:00.621Z<\/p>\n Blasi was dropped from the Kopecky group and is still chasing.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:47:27.339Z<\/p>\n The Kopecky group has made contact with the back of the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:46:45.206Z<\/p>\n Kopecky is still working alone on the front of this chasing group, which has swollen to around 15. The group is almost back in the peloton now.<\/p>\n A lot of energy invested by the race leader over the last few kilometres.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:45:47.818Z<\/p>\n Movistar have come to the front of the peloton in numbers. Liane Lippert has looked excellent all week.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:45:11.302Z<\/p>\n Blasi has just joined the back of the Kopecky group. They are around 30 seconds in arrears of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:43:28.801Z<\/p>\n Paula Blasi is now returning to the back of the bunch after an issue.<\/p>\n Kopecky remains in a chasing group, but is getting closer to the back of the peloton.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:42:22.282Z<\/p>\n After chasing all day, Van Alphen and Rondel have finally been caught by the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:40:37.060Z<\/p>\n UAE Team ADQ’s Squiban has abandoned the race after that crash.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:40:10.699Z<\/p>\n It appears that Kopecky has had some sort of problem and is quite a way off the back of the bunch. She is without any team-mates for the moment as SD Worx-ProTime look to protect Van der Breggen.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:38:33.466Z<\/p>\n Race leader Lotte Kopecky is currently off the back of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:36:43.648Z<\/p>\n The break is going through the town of Nava with a 3:44 advantage.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:36:16.050Z<\/p>\n The pace looks on in the peloton, with Liv-AlUla Jayco, SD Worx-ProTime, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-Oatly all on the front driving things forward.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:35:16.299Z<\/p>\n A third UAE Team ADQ rider has had a crash. After Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi had minor spills earlier on, Maeva Squiban is now on the floor and looks in a bad way.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:32:29.419Z The peloton is slowly creeping into the break’s advantage, which now sits just over four minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:31:35.355Z<\/p>\n Reigning Tour de France Femmes champion Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot is looking to test herself on the final climb today. She is part of a gaggle of riders sitting 32 seconds behind overall leader Lotte Kopecky.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s will be an important stage for the GC, so I\u2019m looking forward to what we can do as a team. Positioning at the bottom of the climb will be important, and from then on it will be a 20-minute test on which we will do our best,\u201d she said before the start.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T14:27:12.269Z<\/p>\n With the way things are going, the breakaway could take an advantage onto the final climb.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:22:12.202Z<\/p>\n It’s been a gentle, formulaic day so far through Asturias. The finale will be anything but.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:18:08.723Z<\/p>\n Lidl-Trek, SD Worx-ProTime and Canyon-SRAM-zondacrypto are all positioned well at the front as the peloton takes on a short descent.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:15:33.868Z The gap is falling slowly and is now 4:40. The intermediate pair are now at 2:30.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:14:39.151Z<\/p>\n In 25km, there will be a bonus sprint on top of a 2.3km climb, La Curciada.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:07:20.650Z<\/p>\n SD Worx-ProTime have spent much of the stage today on the front of the peloton, taking responsibility to pull the group as race leaders despite an expectation that Lotte Kopecky will lose red today.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:02:18.203Z<\/p>\n As the riders continue to climb, the leaders now have 5 minutes of an advantage.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T14:00:03.103Z<\/p>\n Gaia Masetti is certainly the most senior of the riders out front today. The Italian is in her third year in the WorldTour, but her first with Picnic-PostNL. 24-year-old Masetti is a previous winner of La Classique Morbihan and is viewed as a reliable domestique.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:56:41.703Z The leaders now have 4:17 over the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:54:31.001Z<\/p>\n It’s looking like a rather hopeless chase for Van Alphen and Rondel. They are over two minutes behind the lead now.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:52:28.466Z<\/p>\n Lotte Kopecky ensconced in the peloton as it whizzes down a brief section of Asturian coastline.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:48:49.376Z<\/p>\n The leaders have just ridden through the puebla of Villaviciosa. Next is a gentle 10km drag up to La Curciada.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:45:24.874Z The gap between breakaway and peloton has ballooned out above four minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:43:58.892Z<\/p>\n Plenty of the riders are wearing gilets and arm warmers at the moment and the skies are grey overhead.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:43:05.059Z<\/p>\n 2024 Tour de France Femmes winner Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney is one of the big favourites today and has looked in great form so far this week. After keeping out of trouble in the first five stages, the Polish champion is sitting in 9th place overall.<\/p>\n “Now the fun begins,” she said on the team’s website<\/a> after stage 5. “The first three stages were quite hard, but the last two have been passive. That\u2019s given the GC riders time to recover. Physically, I feel good, and I hope to do my best. It\u2019s going to be interesting. I have been thinking how to best ride the final steep climbs so that you don\u2019t blow up. There haven\u2019t been any decisive moments yet for the GC contenders, so I\u2019m looking forward to the next two stages, and also the learnings that will come with them.”<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T13:34:06.647Z<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude0d Salida lanzada de la etapa 6\ufe0f\u20e3… Y con la bandera verde llegan los primeros ataques \ud83d\udca5\ud83d\udcaa Stage 6\ufe0f\u20e3 is underway! And with the fall of the green flag we have a break! pic.twitter.com\/bZnkgyBI3DMay 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:31:59.699Z 2:16 is the advantage for the leaders.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:27:16.771Z<\/p>\n It’s a bit cold out there today, just 14 degrees celsius.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:26:18.388Z<\/p>\n Van Alphen and Rondel are starting to lose ground now. They are 1:19 behind the leaders.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:25:04.671Z<\/p>\n Van Alphen remains in pursuit alongside Rondel.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:23:06.821Z<\/p>\n Allione, Masetti, Vervloet and Valtulini are working well together so far.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:20:11.813Z<\/p>\n The leaders now have 2:25 with the chasing pair remaining just over a minute behind.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:16:11.395Z<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc1 89 km | Etapa 6\ufe0f\u20e3 – Stage 6\ufe0f\u20e3 \u26a1\ufe0f \u00a1Todas quieren la fuga! Tenemos 4 corredoras en cabeza… y otros dos grupos intercalados con el pelot\u00f3n \ud83d\ude4c \u26a1\ufe0f Everyone wants to break away! We\u2019ve got four riders up the road\u2026 with two more groups between them and the peloton \ud83e\udd2a\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/2zVPKZGfboMay 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:15:29.024Z<\/p>\n The riders getting underway behind the commissaire’s car earlier.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:12:45.098Z The peloton’s deficit is approaching two minutes.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:12:15.011Z<\/p>\n Rondel has joined Van Alphen, but the pair still have over a minute to close.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:11:06.194Z<\/p>\n It’s an undulating opening 30km – good terrain for the breakaway. It will get even lumpier in the second half of the stage ahead of today’s finale.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:09:42.860Z<\/p>\n The leaders have stretched out their advantage to over a minute.<\/p>\n Aniek van Alphen (Fenix-Premier Tech) is chasing in an attempt to join the leaders. L\u00e9a Rondel (Mayenne-Monbana-MyPie) is also in pursuit a little further back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:07:42.260Z<\/p>\n Not a good start to the stage for UAE Team ADQ. After Garcia’s early crash, Paula Blasi has also come down. The youngster is back on her bike quickly and in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:06:19.518Z<\/p>\n Lotte Kopecky is in the lead heading into the final two stages, but the Belgian has admitted earlier this year that she is not in the same form which saw her climb to 2nd place in the 2023 Tour de France Femmes. SD Worx-ProTime will be focussed on Anna van der Breggen today as long as she recovers well from her crashes yesterday.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:02:53.649Z<\/p>\n Whatever happens over the next two days, there will be a new winner of La Vuelta Feminina this year, with no former winners on the start-list.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:01:36.822Z<\/p>\n No General Classification threats up the road. Allione is closest to the lead. She is 73rd overall with a deficit of 10:01 to Lotte Kopecky.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T13:00:28.368Z<\/p>\n The leading quartet have a lead of 50 seconds as they climb out of the city of Gij\u00f3n.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:59:50.979Z<\/p>\n The leading group has doubled in size. Gaia Masetti (Picnic-PostNL) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 Ladies) have joined to make a group of four.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:57:54.463Z<\/p>\n A shot of the jersey-wearers on the front of the peloton waiting to get going in Gij\u00f3n. .<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:56:21.018Z<\/p>\n Two riders have attacked and opened up a 30 second lead in the early stages. Marine Allione (Mayenne-Monbana-MyPie) and Elisa Valtulini (Vini Fantini-BePink) are the riders who have separated themselves from the bunch.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:52:45.567Z<\/p>\n There has been an early crash for Mavi Garc\u00eda (UAE Team ADQ).<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:52:17.439Z<\/p>\n Two riders have not started the stage today. They are Marthe Goossens (AG Insurance-Soudal) and Natalie Quinn (Mayenne Monbana My Pie).<\/p>\n Both were caught up in crashes yesterday.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:51:12.639Z The riders have set off from the start-line in Gij\u00f3n.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:49:53.109Z<\/p>\n Niewiadoma-Phinney, Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot and Van der Breggen go into the stage as the big favourites, but there are a number of riders from the second tier of favourites who could surprise.<\/p>\n Young Paula Blasi has been one of the breakout riders of the spring following her Amstel Gold victory. The UAE Team ADQ rider is untested on this kind of test in this kind of company.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Liane Lippert has looked good this week, as have Ashleigh Moolman Pasio and Cedrine Kerbaol. The likes of Ricarda Bauernfeind, Monica Trinca Colonel and Evita Muzic could also challenge.<\/p>\n Lotte Kopecky is expected to struggle on the final climb, but the former world champion has done exceptional things in the mountains before.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:43:54.592Z<\/p>\n 10 minutes to go until the start of the stage.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:42:54.741Z<\/p>\n Yesterday’s stage was a real show of force by SD Worx-ProTime as they took a 1-2 through Bredewold and Kopecky.<\/p>\n “We said, the most important thing is that we win the stage, and we try to do it with the red jersey. But Lotte showed what kind of teammate she is,” said Danny Stam, SD Worx-ProTime sports director.<\/p>\n ‘Lotte showed what kind of teammate she is’ \u2013 Kopecky eases up to let Bredewold win as SD Worx-Protime juggle cards at Vuelta Femenina<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T12:40:09.446Z<\/p>\n We go into this stage with the General Classification very close. The top 25 riders are separated by just 32 seconds, meaning that there are a number of riders who could challenge for the lead today.<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:37:53.765Z<\/p>\n Anna van der Breggen is one of the favourites today, but the SD Worx-ProTime leader crashed twice in yesterday’s stage. How will it affect her performance today?<\/p>\n “I’m OK, I almost could avoid it in the end, but just not,” Van der Breggen said to Eurosport at the finish. “But I’m OK. We could see the clouds already hanging there for quite a while so we expected that it could be [wet], but it was just a pity that it was in the final 2k, 3k. It was really slippery, it was unlucky.”<\/p>\n Anna van der Breggen ‘unlucky’ after pair of crashes take down several riders in wet Vuelta Femenina finale<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images) 2026-05-08T12:29:26.059Z<\/p>\n Here is Cyclingnews’ detailed preview of today’s stage: Wall of Praeres expected to crush challengers and shake up GC standings<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:27:41.595Z<\/p>\n Today is the shortest stage of this year’s Vuelta Feminina, with just 106km ahead of the riders today. It’s a lumpy course for the opening 102km before a real wall of a finish.<\/p>\n Les Praeres.Nava is 3.9km long with an average of 12.6%. The cream is sure to rise to the top on this hellish climb and it’s more than likely that we will have a new leader of the race this afternoon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-05-08T12:22:57.594Z<\/p>\n Yesterday it was Mischa Bredewold who took the win on a gruelling sprint finish in Astorga, leading home an SD Worx-ProTime 1-2 with Lotte Kopecky in second place. Kopecky retained the maillot rojo while Bredewold moved up to 4th overall.<\/p>\n Here’s our full report from yesterday: Mischa Bredewold leads Lotte Kopecky across stage 5 line as SD Worx-Protime repeats with one-two finish<\/a><\/p>\n \n![\"NAVA,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/faS72DraaLZpFn3497rhYF.jpg\")
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\nVan der Breggen wins<\/p>\n
\n500 metres to go<\/p>\n
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\nLes Praeres.Nava – 3.7km at 13%<\/p>\n
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\n20km to go<\/p>\n
\nLa Curciada – Intermediate sprint<\/p>\n
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\n40km to go<\/p>\n![\"pauline](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/fdwuWv9oQxbeiDPmUY5xHV.jpg\")
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\n50km to go<\/p>\n![\"Gaia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/WkEEvmFQi3VHsu3AYmfT2B.jpg\")
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\n60km to go<\/p>\n![\"van](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/xFxT7DaBWYpqXpHxLqKfKM.jpg\")
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\n70km to go<\/p>\n![\"niewiadoma](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/GpzPLJxKrC6xgb3bf6Jtjd.jpg\")
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\n80km to go<\/p>\n![\"van](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/aZffiEhNPWjFmu5kAysBQF.jpg\")
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\n90km to go<\/p>\n![\"Lotte](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dPhX8Toh2KR25R3oKbobLM.jpg\")
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\n106.5km to go<\/p>\n![\"ASTORGA,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/hpU9iTqTynvbfUsEfwHnxR.jpg\")
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