Itzulia Women: A Thrilling Stage 2 Victory for Dominika Włodarczyk
The Itzulia Women race witnessed a thrilling stage 2 victory as Dominika Włodarczyk (UAE Team ADQ) claimed her first WorldTour win. In a closely contested finish, Włodarczyk held off a late charge from Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) and Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek) to secure her triumph.
The stage, spanning 138km from Abadiño to Amorebieta-Etxano, featured five third-category climbs and several unclassified hills. The race unfolded with a group of 24 riders starting the final unclassified climb together. Van Anrooij initiated the decisive attack 6.9km from the finish, followed by Włodarczyk's swift response.
Włodarczyk, a 25-year-old Polish rider, demonstrated her prowess by briefly dropping Van Anrooij over the climb's summit. However, the Dutchwoman, just 24 years old, quickly regained her position, leading to a thrilling sprint finish. With the chase group closing in, Bredewold opted for a long sprint, and Włodarczyk's determination prevailed, allowing her to secure the stage victory.
Włodarczyk's triumph was all the more remarkable given her limited training due to a recent virus. She expressed her surprise and happiness with her current form, stating, 'I really wanted to perform well in the Ardennes Classics but caught a virus. So I came here with only one and a half weeks of training. I am really happy and surprised by my shape right now.'
This victory marks a significant milestone for Włodarczyk, who now moves up to sixth overall. Her performance raises questions about her potential in the overall classification, but she remains cautious, refusing to make any commitments.
The stage also featured a strong showing by Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Premier Tech), who led the peloton over the Trabakua mountain sprint and collected points to defend her QoM jersey. The race's mathematical chances for the white-and-red jersey are now within reach for a select few riders.
Additionally, the stage witnessed a solo attack by Nikola Nosková (Cofidis), who built a substantial gap before being reeled in on the San Pelaio climb. Her efforts earned her the combativity prize. The intermediate sprint in Ibarra was won by Bredewold, followed by an attack from Noä Jansen (Liv AlUla Jayco), which was neutralized by the peloton.
The race's climax came on the Aretxabalgane climb, where Caroline Andersson (Liv AlUla Jayco) initiated an attack, leading to a select chase group. The stage's final moments were filled with strategic maneuvers, including attacks from Lippert and Adegeest, ultimately resulting in Włodarczyk's victory and a thrilling conclusion to the Itzulia Women stage 2.
