Itzulia Women: Mischa Bredewold secures overall victory with daredevil descending as Dominika Włodarczyk doubles up to win final stage

Mischa Bredewold of SD Worx-Protime claimed overall victory at the 2026 Itzulia Women, delivering a dramatic performance on the final stage to defend her race lead. After falling behind on the Mendizorrotz climb with just 10 kilometres remaining, Bredewold launched a daring descent through the streets of Donostia to rejoin the leading group before the finish. Despite the intense effort, she managed to secure sixth place on the stage and maintain a 21-second advantage over her closest rivals, Yara Kastelijn and Lauren Dickson. The decisive final stage covered 113.1 kilometres and featured several climbs, including the renowned Jaizkibel and the critical Mendizorrotz ascent. The race remained tightly contested throughout, with multiple attacks and counterattacks failing to break the peloton early on. Dominika Włodarczyk of UAE Team ADQ emerged victorious in the stage sprint, replicating her earlier stage win and showcasing her sprinting prowess amid a reduced front group. Meanwhile, Bredewold’s measured pacing on the climb and tactical descent proved pivotal in securing her overall triumph. Bredewold expressed deep emotion after the race, reflecting on her previous struggles to hold the lead on the final stage in past editions. She credited her team’s unwavering support and her own strategic approach to pacing on the climb as key factors in her success. “I don’t think I dug this deep in my life before,” she admitted, describing the physical and mental challenge of the closing kilometres. Her victory marks a significant milestone, being her first overall win at Itzulia Women after multiple stage wins in previous years. The race dynamics were shaped by strong team efforts, particularly from Movistar and SD Worx-Protime, who controlled the peloton to neutralise breakaways and contest intermediate sprints. The final climb saw aggressive tactics from riders like Antonia Niedermaier and Juliette Berthet, but it was Bredewold’s resilience and descending skill that ultimately made the difference. With this victory, Bredewold also secured the points classification, underscoring her consistency throughout the event. Looking ahead, Bredewold’s breakthrough performance at Itzulia Women could signal her emergence as a leading contender in women’s stage racing. The thrilling finale highlighted the importance of tactical nous and descending ability in modern racing, while Włodarczyk’s sprinting strength confirmed her status as a formidable stage hunter. The race organisers and teams will no doubt analyse these developments as they prepare for next season’s calendar, where competition is expected to intensify further.