'We didn’t want to just wait for a sprint with Lorena' – Attacking tactics in Vuelta a Burgos Feminas stage 2 finale fail to overcome Wiebes

Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) secured her second consecutive stage win at the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas, prevailing in a bunch sprint finish on stage 2. Despite expectations that the stage would end in another sprint, the closing circuits around Bodega Viña Pedrosa saw a flurry of aggressive attacks, primarily orchestrated by Fenix-Premier Tech. Their strategy aimed to disrupt SD Worx’s sprint train and avoid a predictable sprint showdown with Wiebes, who had already demonstrated her formidable speed in stage 1. Fenix-Premier Tech’s directeur sportif Valerie Demey revealed that the team’s plan was to animate the final 24 kilometres by launching successive attacks from riders such as Sara Casasola, Aniek van Alphen, and Xaydée Van Sinaey. Demey, a former rider known for her attacking style, sought to create chaos and force other teams into reactive positions. Several breakaway attempts emerged, including a notable move by van Alphen that briefly formed a group of 15 riders, featuring prominent names from various teams. However, these efforts failed to maintain momentum as the peloton repeatedly regrouped. The final breakaway, initiated by Van Sinaey with just over 11 kilometres remaining, included a strong mix of riders from multiple teams, including SD Worx-Protime’s Blanka Vas. Despite the tactical intent to either stay away or cause confusion ahead of a late attack, the high pace and organised chase from SD Worx and other teams ultimately neutralised the break. The presence of sprinters within the breakaway groups complicated cooperation, leading to their capture with 8.5 kilometres left. In the closing kilometres, SD Worx-Protime, supported by Lidl-Trek, FDJ United-Suez, and UAE Team ADQ, controlled the tempo to set up their sprint train. Wiebes then demonstrated her dominance once again, crossing the line comfortably ahead of her rivals. Fenix-Premier Tech’s aggressive tactics earned them a respectable eighth place through Millie Couzens, but they were unable to prevent the sprint finish they sought to avoid. The stage underscored SD Worx’s strength and tactical acumen in managing race dynamics and securing sprint victories.