Race Preview: WNT Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta

As the season draws to a close the penultimate round of the UCI Women’s World Tour beckons as the peloton head to Spain.

UCI Women’s World Tour

Having lost the purple jersey in August, Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton Scott), regained control at the top of the standings following her prologue win and 6th place overall in the Boels Ladies Tour last week. However, with just two rounds to go things couldn’t be tighter at the top with just a mere 5 points separating van Vleuten from second placed Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv).

Nipping on the heals of the leading Dutch pair is fellow country woman and leader of the young rider’s ranking – Lorena Wiebes (Parkhotel Valkenburg). After her second place on GC last week as well as two stage wins, Wiebes not only retook the blue jersey, but also moved up to 3rd place in the overall standings just 170 points behind her compatriots.

With the trio missing from action this weekend there will be no change at the top of affairs, meaning the overall title will be decided in Guangxi next month in what looks set to be an exciting three-way Dutch showdown.

The WNT Madrid Challenge by La Vuelta

The 5th edition of the WNT Madrid Challenge takes on a slightly new format for 2019 as the race continues to evolve and develop. This year the weekend of racing comprises of a 9.3km individual time trial on Saturday, followed by a 98.6 km circuit race on Sunday.

In 2018 we saw the event grow to become two days and with the introduction of a team time trial, the circuit race was much more dynamic and interesting. With the trade team TTT now omitted from major championships the Madrid Challenge organisers have decided to switch the TTT to an individual one in a move that could provide even more unpredictable and animated racing on Sunday.

The weekend kicks off in the Boadilla del Monte area of Madrid and riders face a flat 9.3km TT loop. With several long straights, plenty of roundabouts and tight corners it is a technical course suited to strong time triallists and explosive riders. Expect to see riders like Brennauer (WNT- Rotor), Brand (Sunweb) and Cavalli (Valcar Cylance) battling it out for the win.

The 17 lap circuit race on Sunday in central Madrid remains unchanged from previous editions and races around the iconic Plaza Cibeles, Paseo de la Castellana and Plaza de Colon. The traditional pan flat, 5.8km loop is a hard circuit featuring three tight u-turns at the end of each straight. Although a race for the sprinters the 98.6km are far from processional as the time bonuses offered at the intermediate sprints invokes dynamic racing.

Strategically, the combination of the TT time gaps, the time bonuses, the fight for GC as a well as a the battle for the stage win creates both tactical and exciting racing. Indeed, last year, we saw the first successful break in the event’s history with Georgia Bronzini sprinting to the stage win from a select group of 17 riders. The overall win went to Team Sunweb’s Ellen van Dijk courtesy of the time gap established in the TTT. The Dutch rider and TT specialist would have certainly been eyeing up a back to back win in Spain this weeknd but is unfortunately side-lined with multiple injuries sustained in last week’s Boels Ladies Tour.

Although the defending champion and some of the big teams are missing this year the racing still looks set to be fiercely fought, with many of the top sprinters vying to end their season on a high.