Another super-impressive day for Vancouver’s Sidney Swierenga.
The mountains delivered a major shake-up at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina on Saturday, with Liv AlUla Jayco‘s Swierenga continuing to impress in the pro peloton.
A tough day in the saddle Stage 2 of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina was 129 km from Sant Vicenç de Castellet to a nasty summit finish at La Molina. The second stage featured the hors catégorie Coll de la Creueta before a rolling run to the line. The long climb proved decisive, splitting the race apart and leaving only the strongest climbers in contention.
An early breakaway featuring Sheyla Gutiérrez and Victoire Joncheray animated the opening half of the stage before being reeled in on the day’s earlier climbs. Dutch rider Noä Jansen briefly forged ahead on her own but was also caught before the peloton reached the final ascent.
The action at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina
The race exploded on the Coll de la Creueta as repeated attacks whittled the lead group down. AG Insurance-Soudal’s Julie Van de Velde opened a gap before being joined by Ukraine’s Olha Kulynych, but neither could hold off the favourites.
With just over seven km remaining on the climb, Spain’s Paula Blasi launched the move that decided the stage. (Btw, someone ripped off the UAE Emirate’s rider’s Colnago, if you see it pop up.)
Swierenga was among the select riders able to respond, along with Célia Gery, Maud Oudeman and Mireia Benito. Blasi attacked again a short time later, distancing her rivals and riding clear on home roads.
The finale in Spain
Swierenga rode well to crest the summit in second place, but Gery caught and passed the 19-year-old talent on the descent to La Molina. Blasi crossed the line comfortably ahead to claim the stage victory and move into the overall race lead, while Swierenga completed an impressive ride to secure third place.
After the race, Swierenga said she was super-happy with the result, but, “I was in second for a while but blew up at the end and the downhill, but was still proud of herself and my team. I am so happy and grateful.”
Sunday’s stage is a lumpy little ride from Mataró to Barcelona for a total of 111.4km. But in short stage race like this, anything can happen.