European champion Lorena Wiebes powered to an impressive win in the opening stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, capping off a strong team performance with a well-timed sprint on a challenging uphill finish. The Dutch rider claimed victory ahead of Elisa Balsamo, while her teammate Lotte Kopecky secured third place, marking a dominant start for the team.
“This is a great start,” Wiebes said after the race. “It was teamwork. We were represented on all fronts from the start.”
The race began with effective control from Marie Schreiber, Barbara Guarischi, and Femke Markus, who managed the early pace. On a downhill section, Wiebes, Kopecky, and Guarischi broke away with a small group that included riders from UAE Team ADQ. Despite the promising formation, the group struggled to establish cooperation, allowing the peloton—led by classification contenders—to reel them back in.
A late attack from FDJ-Suez’s Cécilia Gery was quickly countered by Steffi Häberlin, allowing Wiebes and Kopecky to save their legs for the final sprint.
“In the last few hundred metres, Lotte and I knew we had two good cards to play,” Wiebes explained. “It was a hard finish, and at one point, I thought I was boxed in. But when Elisa Longo-Borghini made a move, it opened up space on the outside. I followed and launched my sprint right after Balsamo got past Lotte.”
The victory marks Wiebes’ return to racing after the spring classics and serves as a strong statement of form heading into the remaining stages.
“It’s nice to win straight away on my restart,” she added. “I wasn’t sure how my legs would respond, especially after the breakaway. But this confirms that I’m in good shape.”
Wiebes now dons the leader’s jersey heading into Stage Two. While a small climb near the finish could shake things up, she remains optimistic.
“I love the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas,” she said. “Hopefully it will be a bunch sprint tomorrow, but with the possibility of echelons, it depends on the wind. Either way, we’re ready to fight for victory.”
With a strong opening statement and a cohesive team effort, Wiebes and her squad have set the tone for what promises to be an exciting edition of the race.
