'The legs are ready' Antonia Niedermaier bullish ahead of another mountainous stage at Itzulia Women

Antonia Niedermaier delivered an impressive performance on the opening stage of the Itzulia Women, aggressively attacking on the steep Etumeta climb and significantly thinning the peloton. Although she ultimately finished fifth, the 23-year-old climber gained valuable time in the general classification and demonstrated strong form ahead of her primary target, the Giro d’Italia Women later this year. Niedermaier acknowledged that her early solo move was slightly premature but remained positive about her condition and the team's progress. After being caught on the descent, Niedermaier joined a leading group of five riders on the final climb, where she attempted further attacks but was thwarted by less favourable terrain and strong winds. Instead, she focused on maintaining a gap from the chasing group, taking on the responsibility of setting the pace to protect her advantage in the overall standings. She described the dynamic within the front group as unusual, with some riders targeting the stage win while she prioritised time gains for the general classification. Currently sitting fifth overall, Niedermaier is 15 seconds behind stage winner Mischa Bredewold but holds a 16-second lead over many of her rivals. Reflecting on last year’s race, where she was the last to lose contact with three-time champion Demi Vollering, Niedermaier sees an opportunity to be more aggressive this time with Vollering absent. She outlined her strategy for the remaining stages, highlighting a challenging, punchy second day and a decisive final climb similar to last year’s, where she intends to make a strong attack. Niedermaier’s approach underscores her ambition to secure a high placing in the Itzulia Women as part of her preparation for the Giro d’Italia Women. Her performance so far suggests she is in excellent shape and ready to contend on the demanding Basque terrain. With two stages to go, her calculated efforts and climbing prowess position her as a rider to watch as the race unfolds.