Itzulia Women: Dominika Włodarczyk seizes first WorldTour victory on stage 2 as attackers narrowly hold off rapidly chasing race leader

Dominika Włodarczyk of UAE Team ADQ claimed her maiden WorldTour victory on stage two of the Itzulia Women, narrowly holding off a fast-finishing Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) and Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-Trek). The 138km stage from Abadiño to Amorebieta-Etxano featured several climbs, including the decisive unclassified Autzagane ascent where Van Anrooij launched a late attack. Włodarczyk responded immediately, and the pair worked together until the final sprint, where Włodarczyk edged ahead to take the win, with Bredewold sprinting past Van Anrooij to secure second and retain the leader’s jersey. The race unfolded with multiple strategic moves, including a long solo break by Nikola Nosková (Cofidis) who was eventually caught on the San Pelaio climb but earned the combativity prize for her effort. The peloton fragmented on the Aretxabalgane climb, setting the stage for the late attacks. Key riders such as Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Premier Tech) maintained their positions in the points classification, while a select group of 24 riders formed at the front before the final climbs, controlled by teams protecting their leaders and sprinters. Włodarczyk expressed surprise and delight at her victory, revealing she had only recently returned to form after illness and limited training. She described her winning move as a spontaneous response to Van Anrooij’s attack, emphasising the unpredictability of her performance given an earlier crash during the stage. Despite moving up to sixth overall, she remained cautious about her general classification ambitions, preferring to focus on each stage as it comes. The outcome of stage two has intensified the competition for the overall lead and points jersey, with Bredewold holding the yellow jersey but facing pressure from aggressive riders in the coming stages. The race dynamics suggest that teams will continue to employ tactical attacks on climbs and descents to shake up the standings. With the final stage offering significant points, the battle for the queen of the mountains jersey remains open, promising an exciting conclusion to the Itzulia Women.