La Vuelta Femenina: Paula Blasi seizes overall victory with final day turnaround on Alto de L'Angliru as Petra Stiasny solos to stage win

Paula Blasi of UAE Team ADQ secured overall victory in La Vuelta Femenina with a decisive performance on the final stage’s iconic Alto de L’Angliru climb. Despite finishing second on the day, Blasi’s consistent climbing and tactical strength allowed her to overtake overnight leader Anna van der Breggen, who struggled on the punishing ascent and dropped to fifth place. Meanwhile, Petra Stiasny of Human Powered Health claimed a solo stage win, breaking away from the favourites in the closing kilometres to take the biggest triumph of her career. The concluding 132.9km stage was the longest of the race and featured several challenging climbs before the brutal finale on L’Angliru. Early breakaway riders, including Liane Lippert and the Markus sisters, gained a significant lead, but the peloton gradually reeled them in as the race approached the final ascent. The intense pace set by riders such as Gaia Realini and Stiasny fragmented the group of favourites, with only a handful able to keep up as the gradient steepened. Blasi’s measured effort and timely attack proved crucial in distancing herself from rivals like Marion Bunel and van der Breggen. Blasi described the day as “crazy,” reflecting on the relentless attacks and the toll of six days of racing. She admitted to struggling early on the climb but maintained her pace, focusing on endurance rather than immediate power. Noticing van der Breggen faltering, Blasi seized the moment to push harder, a move that ultimately secured her the red jersey. Stiasny, meanwhile, demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical nous, recovering from being dropped to surge past Blasi and claim the stage victory with a commanding finish. The outcome of the final stage reshaped the general classification and underscored the unpredictability and drama of women’s stage racing. Blasi’s triumph marks a significant milestone for UAE Team ADQ, while Stiasny’s breakthrough win signals her rising potential in the sport. With the race concluding on such a demanding climb, the performances on L’Angliru will likely influence team strategies and rider ambitions in future editions of La Vuelta Femenina and other major stage races.