Demi Vollering’s Solo Attack Seals Itzulia Women Victory

“When there is a climb I know how strong I am… I just really need to trust myself and go for it.”
— Demi Vollering

Crushing climb, crushing result

With 14km to go and the GC on the line, Vollering did what she does best: dropped the hammer on the steepest ascent of the day. Despite lingering muscle pain and lingering memories of cramping the day before, she tapped her helmet with signature swagger as she flew toward the finish line in Donostia, solo and untouchable.

Behind her, Sarah Van Dam (Ceratizit-WNT) emerged from the chasing group to take second on the stage — and in doing so, claim her first-ever WorldTour GC podium. Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal), the polka dot jersey winner at last year’s Tour de France Femmes, rounded out the day’s podium.

Bredewold, who had taken both opening stages in sprints, couldn’t respond to the climbing firepower and slipped to second overall — 48 seconds behind Vollering. For the second consecutive year, she came heartbreakingly close to her first WorldTour stage race title.

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Team effort, solo glory

While Vollering’s attack stole the show, she was quick to credit her FDJ-Suez teammates for the setup:

“Amber [Kraak] was riding the whole day in the front, Léa [Curinier] did a really strong pull on the first part of the climb… Évita [Muzic], perfect job to follow the second group. It was perfect teamwork today.”

The win continues a dominant run for Vollering, fresh off her La Vuelta Femenina triumph, and confirms her status as the peloton’s most feared climber — even when racing through pain.

“Even though I cramped yesterday and still have muscle pain, I have done worse with a broken back in the Tour de France, so I know I can do it.”

Early drama and sprint battles

The race began with Bredewold in flying form, claiming back-to-back stage wins. On Stage 1, she bested Great Britain’s Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck), who achieved a career-best second place in Agurain. Stage 2 in Igorre followed a similar script, with Liane Lippert (Movistar) settling for second in the sprint.

The GC landscape changed dramatically, however, after a crash took out expected contender Anna van der Breggen with just 8km to go in Stage 1. Nursing a possible wrist injury, the SD Worx star withdrew before the second stage.

With Van der Breggen out and Bredewold holding a tenuous lead, all eyes turned to the brutal finale — a terrain tailor-made for Vollering’s late-race ambush.

Favourite’s favourite

Reflecting on her love for the Basque roads, Vollering simply said: “It’s a nice race. It suits me well… A victory is always nice. It’s the best feeling there is in the world.”

It’s hard to argue with that.