Mischa Bredewold wins the overall at Itzulia Women after a brilliant defence on a nail biting final stage in San Sebastián

Mischa Bredewold secured overall victory at the 2026 Itzulia Women, held over three days in San Sebastián, Spain, finally overcoming the runner-up finishes she endured in the previous two editions. The SD Worx-Protime rider took the race lead after winning the opening stage on Friday and maintained her advantage through a tense final day. Despite intense pressure on the last climb from strong climbers close to her in the general classification, Bredewold managed a dramatic catch on the leading group in the closing metres to seal her triumph. Starting the final stage with a 16-second lead, Bredewold extended her buffer to 21 seconds through intermediate sprint bonuses, but the decisive climb to Medizorrotz proved challenging. Antonia Niedermaier of Canyon-SRAM and FDJ United-SUEZ’s Lauren Dickson, who was fourth overall at the start of the day, launched aggressive attacks that saw Bredewold fall behind by over 30 seconds. However, support from her teammates and strategic pacing allowed her to claw back the deficit during the descent, ultimately rejoining the front group just before the finish in San Sebastián. The race also highlighted the emergence of promising talents like Lauren Dickson and Dominika Włodarczyk. Dickson, who only began competitive racing in 2024, impressed with consistent podium finishes and demonstrated her potential as both a team player and leader. Meanwhile, Włodarczyk, who had previously shown promise with a strong Tour de France Femmes performance, claimed victories on the second and third stages at Itzulia, marking her first WorldTour wins and finishing fifth overall. Brewedold’s victory represents a significant boost for SD Worx-Protime, a team that had experienced a relatively quiet spring but showed strong form with stage wins and a recent second place overall at the Vuelta Femenina. Starting the race with only five riders instead of the maximum six, the team’s resilience and tactical execution under pressure were key to securing the overall win. The result will likely bolster their confidence heading into the remainder of the season.