Vuelta a Burgos Feminas 2023 – Stage 3 [FULL STAGE] (ladies)

May 20, 2023

Vuelta a Burgos Feminas 2023 – Stage 3 – Caleruega – Aranda de Duero : 112,7 km

The Vuelta a Burgos Féminas is a four-day stage race held in the province of Burgos, an area of northern Spain renowned for its undulating terrain, sun-baked landscapes and imposing mountain passes. The race first took place back in 2015 but until 2018 it was held as a national-level event, meaning it was bypassed by most big-name pros in the peloton. In 2019, however, it was recognised by the UCI and assigned a 2.1 rating. This landmark edition saw riders from all over the world descend on Burgos to compete and, as a result, the race’s popularity boomed. In 2021 it was added to the Women’s WorldTour calendar alongside another Spanish stage race, Itzulia Women. The latter was originally due to take place first and kick off two exciting weeks of stage racing in mid-May, but after being cancelled the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas assumed its place as the first WorldTour-ranked stage race of the season. The multi-day event consists of four stages held within the province of Burgos. In 2019 these stages weren’t very dynamic and nearly all of them followed a similar hilly route. The 2021 race broke this predictable cycle by including a brutal summit finish on the final day of racing. This summit finish took place on the infamous climb to Lagunas de Neila, a climb that is often used on the Queen stage of the men’s race.

A day after being relegated from first to third, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx) came back with another sprint victory. The Dutch sprinter had all her teammates work hard to reel in a breakaway on the final kilometres, but the escapees were still 12 seconds ahead coming onto the uphill finishing straight.

Wiebes opened her sprint early and came past on the final metres to win the stage ahead of Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) and Sheyla Gutiérrez (Movistar), the best-placed rider from the breakaway.

“The team worked really hard for it today,” Wiebes said after the stage. “I was in the wheel of Demi in the last kilometre and I had the feeling of the breakaway is going to get it. But then in the final straight, I saw them slowing down a bit and Demi went full gas.

“In the spring Classics Trek was also really strong and I think it’s mostly a battle between Trek and us. We worked really hard for this all winter, and for me after yesterday it was extra motivation to win this one.”

With the bonus seconds for the stage winner, Wiebes added ten seconds to her GC lead. She is now 14 seconds ahead of Chloé Dygert (Canyon-SRAM) and Vollering but confirmed that the team would only have one leader on the final stage, a mountaintop finish at the Lagunas de Neila.

“I go all-in for Demi, it’s time to do some work for the team,” Wiebes promised.

Results :