Vuelta Femenina: Solo raid nets victory on stage 3 for Cedrine Kerbaol

Cedrine Kerbaol of EF Education-Oatly secured a solo victory on stage 3 of the Vuelta Femenina, showcasing her climbing and descending prowess in a decisive late attack. After her teammate Alice Towers launched an initial move on a cobbled climb near the finish, Kerbaol countered on the descent, quickly opening a gap and maintaining her lead to the line by four seconds. The chasing group sprinted for the minor placings, with Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) taking second ahead of Sarah Van Dam (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Liane Lippert (Movistar). The stage featured an early breakaway by Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Lidl-Trek) and Sterre Vervloet (Lotto-Intermarché), who built a substantial lead before being reeled in by the peloton as the race intensified. The red jersey holder Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) struggled on the final climbs but managed to finish with the main group, narrowly retaining her overall lead. The race saw several attacks and regroupings, with notable efforts from riders including Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, and Anna van der Breggen, which thinned the front group ahead of the decisive moves. Kerbaol expressed mixed emotions following her win, dedicating the victory to her team and reflecting on the recent crash of teammate Noemi Rüegg, who had previously held the leader’s jersey. The French rider revealed that although EF Education-Oatly initially aimed for a general classification result, the team shifted focus to target the stage win when the opportunity arose. Her tactical patience and timing on the descent proved crucial, capitalising on the fatigue of rivals after three days of racing. The result tightens the general classification battle, with Kopecky moving within two seconds of Koch thanks to bonus seconds gained in the sprint. The stage underscored the unpredictable nature of the Vuelta Femenina, where aggressive racing and terrain changes continue to shape the contest. As the race progresses, EF Education-Oatly’s success may embolden them to pursue further stage opportunities alongside their GC ambitions.