The fifth stage of the Vuelta was labeled a sprint stage. The riders rode seventeen 5.6-kilometre local laps through Madrid. Achtereekte and three other people managed to escape after the second lap. The foursome rode in the lead until ten kilometres from the finish. Their advantage on the peloton increased to over one minute. It was the first time former long-track speed skater Achtereekte was in a leading group. Last June, she traded her skates for her racing bike.

"This experience was great”, Achtereekte concluded. "I had not anticipated that, riding ahead through Madrid for seventy kilometres. But I felt good today so when three riders escaped, I decided to take a chance. That went surprisingly easily. Evidently, my legs still have enough strength.”

The race ended in a long and somewhat chaotic sprint. The stage win went to world champion Elise Balsamo. Anouska Koster, who finished sixteenth, was the first Team Jumbo-Visma rider to cross the line.

Team Jumbo-Visma Women suffered many setbacks at the beginning of the Vuelta. Last Wednesday, all riders started the team time trial, but one day later, only four riders were at the start of the second stage. Due to health issues, Karlijn Swinkels and Aafke Soet withdrew from the race.
Nevertheless, race coach Carmen Small reflected on the past few days with satisfaction. "The girls have done well this week. They worked together and got everything out of it. I am proud of that."