The female return continues its course, and with it they begin to shine proper names. The one of aNe Santesteban (Laboral Kutxa-Basque Country) It has been one of the most prominent after the second day, between Molins de Rei and Sant Boi de Llobregat, Where the Gipuzkoan cyclist was not only the protagonist in the first measures, but ended up climbing to the podium as the leader of the mountain classification.
The stage, of 99 kilometers, started with a decision by the Basque team, which had very clear its intentions from the departure flag. “Today we had two clear goals: one was to get the mountain jersean excited Santesteban explained at the end of the day.
The working runner Kutxa launched her early offensive in the Alt de la Creu d’Aragall (2nd category, Km 11.9), where she crowned in the first position after a brave offensive. That effort earned him to cool the jersey to Red Topos and collect the mountain prize in Sant Boi. A reward that goes beyond the symbolic. “There have been a lot of complicated for both me and the team. It seemed that things were not coming out, and that’s why today I wanted to achieve this goal,” he acknowledged.
The stage was not simple. The rain appeared in the final stretch and complicated the driving of the platoon. The falls happened, but they did not alter a script that ended with victory to the sprint for Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease to Bike), in an arrival in which Laura Tomasi managed to sneak into the Top-10 with a meritorious tenth place. Behind, Biriukova, use ostolaza, Santesteban and Debora Silvestri also crossed the line in the main squad.
In the bosom of the team Laboral Kutxa-Basque Country, The satisfaction was total. “The day has left us round, since we have achieved the objectives we had set ourselves. On the one hand, fight for the mountain and dress the jersey today. Tomorrow, as there is no mountain, we would continue with the leadership, and we will fight again in the fourth stage,” said Ion Lazkano, sports responsible for the Basque team.
The other great goal of the day was also fulfilled. “We wanted to achieve the top10 with the runner squad that is here, so we are very satisfied with the work done,” added Lazkano, recognizing the merit of the block formed by Yuliia Biriukova, Arianna Fidanza, Usa Ostolaza, Ane Santesteban, Debora Silvestri, Alba Teruel and Laura Tomasi, under the baton of Lazkano and Peio Goikoetxea.
The leadership of the race now passes to Letizia Paternoster (LIV), but the Basque prominence remains firm in the fight for the mountain. Santesteban, who will wear the distinctive jersey in the third stage, was grateful: “I think we all needed this, we had to give 110% because the whole team needed this award. The staff strives a lot to guarantee the best possible conditions to perform our work. That’s why I think we all deserved it.”
The next stage, Barbastro – Huesca (132.4 km), does not include scoring dimensions, which will allow Ane to conserve its mountain leadership one more day. A favorable profile to the rollers and sprinters, in which the wind could play a key role if the fans appear.
The female return thus enters a wear phase in which teamwork and tactical intelligence will make differences. Meanwhile, Santesteban has already left his mark and will seek to remain the protagonist in a race that promises strong emotions until his outcome.
