With Nienke Veenhoven starting the day in the leader’s jersey, Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women immediately took control at the front of the peloton in the queen stage of the Spanish stage race. Thanks to the team’s efforts, no dangerous breakaway was able to establish itself and the focus soon shifted to the decisive final climb.

While Martina Fidanza was unfortunately forced to abandon the race, Oudeman showed her strong form on the slopes of the Coll de la Creueta. The young Dutch rider climbed alongside the race favourites and eventually finished seventh, a result that also moves her into seventh place in the general classification.

“It was a really tough day,” Oudeman reflected afterwards. “It was very hot, but my teammates took great care of me throughout the stage. On the final climb, I simply tried to ride as fast as possible. The pace kept changing with repeated accelerations, which doesn’t really suit me. But it is what it is.”

While Oudeman was able to stay with the strongest riders for a long time, Marion Bunel experienced a more difficult day. “It was a really tough day. I had hoped to feel better on the final climb, but today just wasn’t my day.”

Sports director Joppe de Heij looked back positively on the stage: “Our goal was to win the intermediate sprint with Nienke, and we achieved that. We also wanted to support Maud as much as possible. Finishing seventh is a solid result, although there may have been a little more in it. Overall, we can be satisfied with today’s performance.”