After a fast start in Villagonzalo Pedernales, Spain, it took a long time before any riders could escape. Halfway through the race, Katrine Aalerud managed to get away after the peloton had been split into several groups, because of echelons. The Norwegian rider quickly built up a lead of several minutes. For a long time, it looked like Aalerud would win, but in the final kilometres the sprint teams caught up just in time. Lotta Henttala then sprinted to the victory.

The women of Team Visma | Lease a Bike were positioned well throughout the entire stage and finished with five riders in the front group. Sports director Boven was satisfied with how the first stage in Spain went. "Getting through the day well was the most important thing for us, and we did that. Of course we don't have an absolute sprinter with us here in Spain, so that makes it difficult in this kind of stages. Beforehand, we were prepared for echelons. That was mostly successful, only Mijntje Geurts lost some time today."

"Our other riders finished in the front group, so I am happy with that”, Boven continues. "Rosita Reijnhout and Maud Oudeman struggled for a while, but quickly returned to the front. In the last thirty kilometres, we were very sharp and constantly showed ourselves in the front group."

Tomorrow the riders face a tough stage with an uphill finish. "We are here with a young team and we know that we are not among the favourites. However, we do have ambitions with Eva, Rosita and Maud. Eva had to abandon La Vuelta España eleven days ago due to illness. Today she made it through, so that is a good sign for the rest of the week”, the sports director concludes.