MADRID — Spanish rider Paula Blasi won the women’s Vuelta a Espana at the summit of L’Angliru, finishing second on the seventh and final stage behind Switzerland’s Petra Stiasny.
Second overall at the start of the stage, UAE ADQ rider Blasi clinched victory ahead of Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen, who was dropped on the brutal slopes of the final climb in Asturias.
Blasi, 23, secured a first-ever Grand Tour triumph, with SD Worx-Protime’s Van der Breggen second and young French rider Marion Bunel, who was fourth, in third overall, AFP reported.
The race’s longest stage at 132 kilometres, was decided on the Angliru finish, one of the toughest climbs in cycling, as Blasi confirmed her status as an international cycling star.
With around four kilometres remaining Brunel attacked and Blasi followed, with Van de Breggen unable to keep up, finishing 24 seconds behind the Spaniard overall.
This was the first time the women’s Vuelta has incorporated the notorious Angliru climb, with slopes of up to 23 per cent.
Blasi has enjoyed a superb season, winning the Amstel Gold Race and impressing at La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege before her impressive Vuelta triumph.
