Paula Blasi, Spain’s Great Hope at La Vuelta
The women’s Vuelta a España kicks off on Sunday, May 3, with its most challenging edition ever, featuring the legendary Angliru climb that will test the riders and the top favorite, French champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, the reigning Tour de France winner. Paula Blasi stands as the great national hope.
With Dutch rider Demi Vollering absent—last year’s winner opted to race the Giro instead—Ferrand-Prévot emerges as the main contender for the overall victory in this demanding Vuelta.
The peloton will tackle more than 14,500 meters of cumulative elevation gain over the seven-day race from May 3 to 9, navigating the rugged terrain of Galicia, León, and Asturias in northern Spain.
The final two stages on the weekend of May 8-9 will be decisive, with two summit finishes: Les Praeres (3.9 km at 12.5%) and, above all, the Angliru summit (12.1 km at 10.3%).
The French rider aims for redemption after her debut in the Spanish tour last year, where she had to withdraw during the fifth stage. That setback didn’t stop her from later winning the Tour de France with a four-minute advantage over Vollering.
“I want to give my best. I feel I still lack a bit of explosiveness, but I’m very close to my version from last year on long climbs,” explained Ferrand-Prévot.
Anticipating a duel among climbers from the 18 participating teams, Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma, leader of Canyon-SRAM, shapes up as the Frenchwoman’s main rival. Niewiadoma arrives in Spain for the sixth time, eager to step onto the podium after placing fourth in La Flèche Wallonne and third in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
“My objective? The podium and a stage win,” assured the 2024 Tour winner.
Blasi, the Local Hope
In Vollering’s absence, FDJ United-Suez will rely on French riders Juliette Berthet (née Labous), who has finished in the top seven in all three editions of the Vuelta under its current format, and Évita Muzic, who has always placed within the top ten.
Spanish rider Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ), winner of the Amstel Gold Race, third in La Flèche Wallonne, and fifth in Liège, emerges as another major contender for the final victory.
“The Vuelta is on the calendar,” said the 23-year-old Blasi to Mundo Deportivo when discussing her goals for this season.
Blasi will be accompanied by her mentor Mavi García, who placed third in the last women’s World Championship and second in the Down Under this year, ahead of Blasi herself. García aims for a strong performance in the Vuelta during her farewell season from cycling.
Movistar hopes to deliver a solid performance with German rider Liane Lippert as team leader, supported by Cuban sprinter Arlenis Sierra.
Mentions: Road Cycling, Demi Vollering, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Paula Blasi, Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Mavi Garcia, Liane Lippert, Arlenis Sierra, Evita Muzic, Vuelta a España.