One more stage for the women's race of the Vuelta
The Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta is the women's race linked to La Vuelta ciclista a España, and this year reaches its seventh edition. However, despite being a young race, since its inception in 2015 it has evolved in the format, and has been progressively adding days of competition. From the one-day event in 2015, it went to a 2-stage race in 2018. Last year, in 2020, a third day of competition was added and this year one more, until reaching the four stages that make up the current edition of the race.
Route
The first and third stages have mid-mountain profiles, although the most demanding climbs are far from the finish line. The time trial on the second day is short in length but all uphill, and it will surely be decisive for the general classification. Finally, the fourth stage is the flattest and seems designed to give the sprinters a chance.
Favorites
Anna van der Breggen (1200) and Annemiek van Vleuten (1200) are the strongest a priori and they can display a great duel. Other applicants in a second echelon are women such as Lisa Brennauer (1000), Elsa Longo Borghini (1000), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), Ellen van Dijk (600), Marlen Reusser (600), Mavi García (600), Marta Cavalli (800), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Kristen Faulkner (400) or Liane Lippert (800), among others.
Among the sprinters, Lotte Kopecky (1000), Alison Jackson (400), Marta Bastianelli (800), Elisa Balsamo (800) Coryn Rivera (800) and Lonneke Uneken (400) stand out.