Polish rider Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka added another impressive result to her standout 2025 season, finishing fifth on the opening stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas. The finish marked her 12th top-ten result of the year and once again showcased her growing reputation as one of the peloton’s most versatile and dependable riders.
Riders rolled out under overcast skies from the iconic Burgos Cathedral, but tranquility quickly gave way to chaos in a relentless 125-kilometre stage defined by varied terrain and technical descents—classic trademarks of racing in the rugged Burgos province.
Two breakaways dominated the day’s narrative. The first held a gap of over five minutes before being caught by a potent chase group of 11 riders formed on a twisting 6km descent. The group, featuring general classification and stage hopefuls including Antonia Niedermaier, remained clear until the final 25 kilometres. With all categorized climbs behind them, it was the peloton’s furious chase that brought them back.
The race’s final twist came with a late two-rider attack, prompting a determined chase from Skalniak-Sójka’s team to bring it all back together with just one kilometre to go—setting the stage for a grueling uphill bunch sprint to the finish in Poza de la Sal (1.6km at 5.9%).
“In some points we were going super slow, like when the first breakaway went, but it was still super dangerous and hectic in the bunch because we were on quite small roads,” Skalniak-Sójka said after the finish. “In the final, the girls did an amazing job for me, always motivating me and being there to close the breakaway. I could then sprint for fifth place in the end.”
Despite a hard final climb and a chaotic sprint, Skalniak-Sójka managed to pass several riders in the closing metres, capping a strong day of racing behind a world-class top four: Lorena Wiebes, Elisa Balsamo, Lotte Kopecky, and Elisa Longo Borghini.
“I’m happy with today – I couldn’t do anything more,” she said. “It was hectic and fast until the line, especially with a small road up to the finish where everyone was fighting for position. The sprint started with 300m to go, so it was quite a long sprint, but I gave it my all.”
With the result, Skalniak-Sójka maintains momentum and morale heading into the next three stages: a flatter, sprinter-friendly day, a decisive summit finish, and a potentially race-shaping time trial. Backed by a cohesive and motivated team, she looks poised to continue challenging across all terrains.
