SD Worx Rider Dominates First Stage of Tour of the Basque Country

This article was last updated on May 12, 2023

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SD Worx Rider Dominates First Stage of Tour of the Basque Country

Demi Vollering of SD Worx made a strong start at the Tour of the Basque Country, securing a convincing win in the first stage. The Dutch cyclist, who narrowly missed out on victory in the Vuelta last week, made her mark in the hill stage to Markina-Xemein, soloing to the top and descending unthreatened to the finish.

The Stage

The first stage of the four-stage race was a hill stage covering 126.9 km from Bilbao to Markina-Xemein. Riders faced a challenging course with narrow roads, steep hills, and technical descents.

The Race

The peloton remained compact for the first half of the race, with no breakaways. However, the pace increased on the second climb, and the leading group was reduced to just over 20 riders.

Vollering made an impressive move on the last climb, putting in a scorching acceleration that no one could match. She lead the rest of the race, soloing to the finish with a comfortable 47-second lead. Her teammate, Marlen Reusser, finished in second place, with Katarzyna Niewiadoma of Canyon//SRAM Racing coming in third.

The event offered a measure of redemption for Vollering, who narrowly missed out on victory in the Vuelta last week. She was unable to follow her rival, Annemiek van Vleuten, in the final stretch of the race.

The significance of the win

Vollering’s win marks an impressive start to the Tour of the Basque Country, which is known for its challenging courses. It is also a significant victory for the cyclist, who has had an exceptional season but was unable to secure a victory in the Vuelta. She takes the leader’s jersey in the GC and is well placed to secure an overall win.

The Tour of the Basque Country

The Tour of the Basque Country is a four-stage race that covers a total of 558.8 km through the Basque Country. The race is known for its demanding courses, and this year’s event is no different. It includes several challenging climbs, technical descents, and narrow roads.

The event attracts some of the world’s best cyclists, including several who are preparing for the Ardennes Classics and the Giro d’Italia. The race includes some of the most beautiful and demanding courses in the Basque Country, including the iconic climbs of Arrate, Izua, and Elosua.

The significance of Vollering’s win for SD Worx

SD Worx, the team of Demi Vollering, has been one of the most successful teams this season, with several riders winning major events. The team has been in dominant form, winning several of the top one-day races, including the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Strade Bianche.

Vollering’s win is a significant boost for SD Worx, which has been aiming to dominate the peloton this season. The team has a strong squad and is well placed to secure several more victories in the upcoming races.

Conclusion

Vollering’s win in the first stage of the Tour of the Basque Country is an impressive start to the race and marks a measure of redemption for the cyclist after narrowly missing out on victory in the Vuelta last week. It is also a significant victory for SD Worx, which has been aiming to dominate the peloton this season.