Anna van der Breggen 'unlucky' after pair of crashes take down several riders in wet Vuelta Femenina finale

Anna van der Breggen of SD Worx-Protime was among several riders involved in crashes during the rain-soaked finale of stage 5 at the Vuelta Femenina. The slippery conditions led to an initial crash around 26 kilometres from the finish, followed by a larger pile-up caused by a wheel touch in the peloton with just 1.4 kilometres remaining. Despite the chaos, Van der Breggen managed to avoid a full fall and quickly rejoined the race, finishing 1 minute 36 seconds behind the stage winner, her teammate Mischa Bredewold. Although Van der Breggen crossed the line behind the leading group, she was credited with the same time as the peloton because the crash occurred within the final five kilometres, meaning her general classification standing remains unaffected. She expressed relief at escaping serious injury but lamented the unfortunate timing of the incident, especially given the challenging weather conditions. With two demanding mountain stages ahead, including a steep climb on stage 6 and the notorious Alto de l'Angliru on stage 7, Van der Breggen will be hoping to recover fully and maintain her podium ambitions. Other riders were less fortunate in the crashes, notably Letizia Paternoster of Liv AlUla Jayco, who fell in the first incident and struggled visibly with wrist pain despite finishing third on the stage. Several others, including Tiffany Cromwell, Maria Martins, and Marthe Goossens, lost significant time, though no serious injuries have been reported so far. The physical toll from these accidents could complicate the race’s closing stages, which are set to test the riders’ endurance and resilience on some of the most demanding climbs of the season. The Vuelta Femenina continues to attract strong competition from top riders such as Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, all vying for position in one of the premier women’s stage races. With the race entering its decisive phases, the impact of today’s crashes will be closely watched, particularly in terms of how affected riders manage the punishing mountain terrain still to come. The unfolding drama promises to keep fans and teams on edge as the contest for the overall title intensifies.