Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta: Elisa Balsamo wins final stage as Annemiek Van Vleuten takes overall

This article originally appeared on Velo News

World champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) sprinted to victory on the final stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta, proving the fastest after 17 laps of the Madrid circuit.

After a long lead-out from SD Worx, Lotte Kopecky took second, with Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) rounding out the podium.

Red jersey Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) finished safely in the bunch to seal her second consecutive overall victory at the Ceratizit Challenge after winning the Queen stage by two minutes on Thursday.

A four-rider breakaway of Sara Poidevin (EF Educaction-TIBCO-SVB), Sandra Alonso (Ceratizit-WNT), Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health) and Carlijn Achtereekte (Jumbo Visma) was away for the majority of the stage, but was brought back 10km from the finish.

"I'm extremely happy," Balsamo said at the finish. "This was my last race with the [rainbow] jersey and so there is not a better way to end such a wonderful season for me. My teammates did a great job, they really were the strongest team and we were chasing the whole day. I really have to say thank you to everyone in the team."

"We didn't want to let the breakaway go more than one minute, so Shirin [van Anrooij] and Amalie [Diderisken] worked very hard the whole day and then Lucinda [Brand] and Elisa [Longo Borghini] did a great lead-out. It was the perfect day for us and I'm very happy."

"We won the first stage in the TTT. Honestly it was amazing. It was my first TTT with the team, we really enjoyed it and today we won again, no better way to end the season."

How it happened

The final stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta this year returned to the course that started the event with a 96km circuit race around Madrid. The peloton raced 17 laps of a 5.8km circuit around the capital – a fast but technical loop that featured three hairpin bends, several long straights and then a slight rise to the line in the last kilometre. Traditionally the stage has been won by sprinters, with Jolien D'Hoore and Balsamo among those to have won in Madrid previously, but in the absence of top sprinter Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), the race was perhaps opened up slightly on Sunday.

The likelihood of a bunch sprint didn't stop the riders hoping for a breakaway, though, and the attacks started straight out of the neutral lap. The first rider to get a solid gap was Sara Poidevin (EF Educaction-TIBCO-SVB), who led the race by 11 seconds after the first lap. The Canadian was then joined by Sandra Alonso (Ceratizit-WNT), Nina Buijsman (Human Powered Health) and Carlijn Achtereekte (Jumbo Visma), and with the extra firepower, the leading quartet were able to build a lead of over a minute over the next few laps.

After six laps, the gap was starting to come down again as the peloton tightened their control on the race. Winners on stage 4 with Silvia Persico, Valcar Travel & Service was leading the bunch, hoping to set things up for either Chiara Consonni or Persico. At the halfway point of the stage, with 47km remaining, the leaders were only 40 seconds ahead of the bunch. Going into the final five laps, a crash in the peloton had slowed the chase slightly, meaning the leaders still had a 40 seconds advantage with 28km remaining.

In the peloton, red jersey wearer Van Vleuten was drifting slightly towards the back of the group, staying out of trouble on the kind of course that doesn't suit her abilities. Van Vleuten's choice of position was vindicated going into the final four laps when another crash in the feed zone saw several riders hit the ground, but the race leader managed to avoid any danger.

With three laps remaining, the breakaway started to attack each other as their lead fell below 15 seconds and Buijsman tried to escape her break companions. The peloton had the leaders in its sights on the straights by this point, but the four were pushing hard to try to hold onto their advantage. Buijsman and Alonso held on to be the last riders caught, but were absorbed by the peloton with 10km to go.

As the catch was made, Sara Martin (Movistar) and Niamh Fisher-Black (SD Worx) launched a counter-move, using a 400m rise in the middle of the lap to get a small gap on the peloton. Trek-Segafredo closed the move down in support of Balsamo, and their efforts really strung out the bunch with just 7km left to race. With 5km remaining, Georgia Williams (BikeExchange-Jayco) and Laura Asencio (Ceratizit-WNT) snuck off the front of the peloton in an attempt at a late escape, but again were brought back ahead of the expected bunch sprint.

In the final kilometers, Trek-Segafredo, Movistar and SD Worx were all lining up their lead-outs and it was Blanka Vas and Demi Vollering who led the bunch into the final kilometer. In the last 500m, Longo Borghini's lead-out saw her briefly off the front as she rode away from the sprinters, but this meant Balsamo was able to launch off the wheel of Lotte Kopecky behind to come around her teammate and win the stage by several bike lengths. Kopecky held on for second, while Bastianelli finished fast to take third.

Van Vleuten finished safely in the bunch to secure overall victory in Madrid, her second win at the Ceratizit Challenge and her third consecutive GC win of the year after the Giro d'Italia Donne and the Tour de France Femmes. Longo Borghini's efforts earlier in the week saw her finish second overall, while Vollering completed the podium in third. Stage 4 winner Persico will take home the green sprinter's jersey, and Brand topped the mountains classification after her breakaway ride on stage 2.

The Women's WorldTour season will conclude with the new Tour de Romandie on October 7-9.

Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta Stage 5 Results

1

BALSAMO Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

2:21:37

2

KOPECKY Lotte

Team SD Worx

0:00

3

BASTIANELLI Marta

UAE Team ADQ

0:00

4

JASTRAB Megan

Team DSM

0:00

5

BERTIZZOLO Sofia

UAE Team ADQ

0:00

6

CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

0:00

7

NEUMANOVA Tereza

Liv Racing Xstra

0:00

8

MANLY Alexandra

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

0:00

9

LETH Julie

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:00

10

GUAZZINI Vittoria

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

0:00

11

PERSICO Silvia

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:00

12

BORGHESI Letizia

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

0:00

13

NORSGAARD Emma

Movistar Team

0:00

14

NELSON Josie

Team Coop - Hitec Products

0:00

15

LONGO BORGHINI Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

0:00

16

KOSTER Anouska

Team Jumbo-Visma

0:00

17

ROY Sarah

Canyon//SRAM Racing

0:00

18

MACKAIJ Floortje

Team DSM

0:00

19

NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna

Canyon//SRAM Racing

0:00

20

LE NET Marie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

0:00

21

VOLLERING Demi

Team SD Worx

0:00

22

SHACKLEY Anna

Team SD Worx

0:00

23

CHAPMAN Brodie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

0:00

24

FISHER-BLACK Niamh

Team SD Worx

0:00

25

CHABBEY Elise

Canyon//SRAM Racing

0:00

26

GARCIA Mavi

UAE Team ADQ

0:00

27

LIPPERT Liane

Team DSM

0:00

28

LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

0:00

29

SOTO Catalina Anais

Bizkaia Durango

0:07

30

CONSONNI Chiara

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:07

31

LABOUS Juliette

Team DSM

0:07

32

ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

0:07

33

YSLAND Anne Dorthe

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:07

34

WRIGHT Sophie

UAE Team ADQ

0:07

35

RAAIJMAKERS Marit

Human Powered Health

0:07

36

NERLO Aurela

Massi - Tactic Women Team

0:07

37

LOWDEN Joscelin

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:07

38

GASKJENN Ingvild

Team Coop - Hitec Products

0:07

39

SANTESTEBAN Ane

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

0:07

40

DE JONG Thalita

Liv Racing Xstra

0:07

41

JASKULSKA Marta

Liv Racing Xstra

0:07

42

LUTRO Amalie

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:07

43

DEMEY Valerie

Liv Racing Xstra

0:07

44

GONZALEZ Lucia

Bizkaia Durango

0:07

45

LARRARTE Eukene

Bizkaia Durango

0:07

46

EWERS Veronica

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

0:07

47

YONAMINE Eri

Human Powered Health

0:07

48

KRAAK Amber

Team Jumbo-Visma

0:07

49

TON Quinty

Liv Racing Xstra

0:07

50

BERG EDSETH Marte

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:07

51

LACH Marta

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

0:07

52

VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek

Movistar Team

0:07

53

RIEDMANN Linda

Team Jumbo-Visma

0:07

54

WILLIAMS Georgia

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

0:07

55

TOMASI Laura

UAE Team ADQ

0:07

56

BLANCO Iurani

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

0:07

57

SIERRA Arlenis

Movistar Team

0:07

58

MUZIC Evita

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

0:07

59

PIERGIOVANNI Federica Damiana

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:07

60

LUDWIG Hannah

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

0:07

61

STEPHENS Lauren

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

0:07

62

BARALE Francesca

Team DSM

0:15

63

KUMIEGA Karolina

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:16

64

BRAND Lucinda

Trek - Segafredo

0:16

65

SCHWEIKART Aileen

Bizkaia Durango

0:16

66

BUIJSMAN Nina

Human Powered Health

0:16

67

STEIGENGA Nicole

Team Coop - Hitec Products

0:16

68

MALCOTTI Barbara

Human Powered Health

0:16

69

BOOGAARD Maaike

UAE Team ADQ

0:16

70

CAMPOS Daniela

Bizkaia Durango

0:16

71

KIESENHOFER Anna

Soltec Team

0:22

72

TRAXLER Anna Gabrielle

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

0:23

73

ANDERSSON Caroline

Team Coop - Hitec Products

0:28

74

MARTIN Sara

Movistar Team

0:28

75

OSTOLAZA Usoa

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

0:28

76

MENDEZ Irene

Bizkaia Durango

0:28

77

VAN ANROOIJ Shirin

Trek - Segafredo

0:28

78

ERASO Idoia

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

0:28

79

SHAPIRA Omer

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

0:28

80

PEREZ Susana

Rio Miera - Cantabria Deporte

0:28

81

BARIL Olivia

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:28

82

STANNARD Elizabeth

Valcar - Travel & Service

0:28

83

RAMIREZ Andrea

Massi - Tactic Women Team

0:28

84

ALONSO Sandra

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

0:28

85

NUNEZ Miryam Maritza

Massi - Tactic Women Team

0:28

86

STULTIENS Sabrina

Liv Racing Xstra

0:28

87

ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena

Canyon//SRAM Racing

0:28

88

KUIJPERS Evy

Human Powered Health

0:28

89

VAS Blanka

Team SD Worx

0:28

90

ACHTEREEKTE Carlijn

Team Jumbo-Visma

0:28

91

ASENCIO Laura

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

0:28

92

REUSSER Marlen

Team SD Worx

0:59

93

CAMPBELL Teniel

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

0:59

94

BIANNIC Aude

Movistar Team

1:03

95

AALERUD Katrine

Movistar Team

1:03

96

POIDEVIN Sara

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

2:11

97

GUTIERREZ Sandra

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

4:51

98

NILSSON Hanna

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

6:50

99

TEUTENBERG Lea Lin

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

6:50

100

DIDERIKSEN Amalie

Trek - Segafredo

7:20

101

HARVEY Mikayla

Canyon//SRAM Racing

9:01

102

MURESAN Manuela

Soltec Team

9:01

103

ALZATE Andrea

Soltec Team

13:44

104

BUCH Hannah

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

13:44

105

CANTERA Ines

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

13:44

106

CALVO Tania

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

13:44

1

VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek

Movistar Team

12:21:46

2

LONGO BORGHINI Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

1:44

3

VOLLERING Demi

Team SD Worx

2:11

4

LIPPERT Liane

Team DSM

2:34

5

LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

2:43

6

SANTESTEBAN Ane

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

3:03

7

SHACKLEY Anna

Team SD Worx

3:07

8

CHABBEY Elise

Canyon//SRAM Racing

3:29

9

LABOUS Juliette

Team DSM

3:35

10

NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna

Canyon//SRAM Racing

3:38

11

CHAPMAN Brodie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

3:47

12

PERSICO Silvia

Valcar - Travel & Service

3:50

13

GARCIA Mavi

UAE Team ADQ

4:09

14

EWERS Veronica

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

4:48

15

MANLY Alexandra

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

4:51

16

SIERRA Arlenis

Movistar Team

5:21

17

KRAAK Amber

Team Jumbo-Visma

6:08

18

FISHER-BLACK Niamh

Team SD Worx

6:45

19

YONAMINE Eri

Human Powered Health

7:37

20

KIESENHOFER Anna

Soltec Team

8:12

21

KOPECKY Lotte

Team SD Worx

8:41

22

KOSTER Anouska

Team Jumbo-Visma

10:30

23

MACKAIJ Floortje

Team DSM

11:01

24

BERTIZZOLO Sofia

UAE Team ADQ

11:13

25

ROOIJAKKERS Pauliena

Canyon//SRAM Racing

11:21

26

VAN ANROOIJ Shirin

Trek - Segafredo

11:37

27

LOWDEN Joscelin

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

11:47

28

VAS Blanka

Team SD Worx

12:07

29

REUSSER Marlen

Team SD Worx

12:31

30

BALSAMO Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

15:52

31

WILLIAMS Georgia

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

16:04

32

WRIGHT Sophie

UAE Team ADQ

16:23

33

MARTIN Sara

Movistar Team

16:44

34

STANNARD Elizabeth

Valcar - Travel & Service

17:01

35

NELSON Josie

Team Coop - Hitec Products

17:22

36

GASKJENN Ingvild

Team Coop - Hitec Products

17:38

37

ASENCIO Laura

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

17:48

38

MALCOTTI Barbara

Human Powered Health

18:25

39

CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

18:26

40

GUAZZINI Vittoria

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

18:31

41

BARALE Francesca

Team DSM

19:29

42

AALERUD Katrine

Movistar Team

20:08

43

MUZIC Evita

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

22:08

44

ROSEMAN-GANNON Ruby

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

22:33

45

ALONSO Sandra

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

22:52

46

BORGHESI Letizia

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

22:53

47

LACH Marta

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

23:48

48

BASTIANELLI Marta

UAE Team ADQ

23:50

49

PIERGIOVANNI Federica Damiana

Valcar - Travel & Service

23:59

50

TOMASI Laura

UAE Team ADQ

24:01

51

ROY Sarah

Canyon//SRAM Racing

24:11

52

STEPHENS Lauren

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

24:26

53

SHAPIRA Omer

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

24:45

54

BUIJSMAN Nina

Human Powered Health

24:46

55

TON Quinty

Liv Racing Xstra

25:03

56

RAAIJMAKERS Marit

Human Powered Health

25:38

57

BRAND Lucinda

Trek - Segafredo

25:52

58

LUDWIG Hannah

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

26:41

59

NEUMANOVA Tereza

Liv Racing Xstra

26:47

60

NUNEZ Miryam Maritza

Massi - Tactic Women Team

27:25

61

YSLAND Anne Dorthe

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

28:18

62

DEMEY Valerie

Liv Racing Xstra

28:37

63

ACHTEREEKTE Carlijn

Team Jumbo-Visma

29:39

64

LE NET Marie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

29:46

65

BOOGAARD Maaike

UAE Team ADQ

31:01

66

BARIL Olivia

Valcar - Travel & Service

31:59

67

MENDEZ Irene

Bizkaia Durango

33:26

68

JASKULSKA Marta

Liv Racing Xstra

33:59

69

SCHWEIKART Aileen

Bizkaia Durango

34:06

70

BERG EDSETH Marte

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

34:20

71

STULTIENS Sabrina

Liv Racing Xstra

34:20

72

DE JONG Thalita

Liv Racing Xstra

34:25

73

LETH Julie

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

35:02

74

STEIGENGA Nicole

Team Coop - Hitec Products

35:07

75

KUMIEGA Karolina

Valcar - Travel & Service

35:09

76

ANDERSSON Caroline

Team Coop - Hitec Products

36:03

77

BIANNIC Aude

Movistar Team

36:53

78

RIEDMANN Linda

Team Jumbo-Visma

37:12

79

OSTOLAZA Usoa

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

38:44

80

ERASO Idoia

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

38:48

81

RAMIREZ Andrea

Massi - Tactic Women Team

38:58

82

HARVEY Mikayla

Canyon//SRAM Racing

40:15

83

NERLO Aurela

Massi - Tactic Women Team

40:46

84

GONZALEZ Lucia

Bizkaia Durango

41:24

85

CONSONNI Chiara

Valcar - Travel & Service

42:27

86

NILSSON Hanna

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

42:33

87

SOTO Catalina Anais

Bizkaia Durango

43:26

88

NORSGAARD Emma

Movistar Team

43:33

89

CANTERA Ines

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

43:39

90

POIDEVIN Sara

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

43:45

91

TEUTENBERG Lea Lin

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

44:21

92

CAMPBELL Teniel

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

45:45

93

JASTRAB Megan

Team DSM

46:29

94

DIDERIKSEN Amalie

Trek - Segafredo

47:12

95

BLANCO Iurani

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

48:37

96

LARRARTE Eukene

Bizkaia Durango

49:37

97

PEREZ Susana

Rio Miera - Cantabria Deporte

50:18

98

LUTRO Amalie

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

56:57

99

CAMPOS Daniela

Bizkaia Durango

59:10

100

KUIJPERS Evy

Human Powered Health

59:27

101

MURESAN Manuela

Soltec Team

1:05:14

102

BUCH Hannah

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

1:07:58

103

TRAXLER Anna Gabrielle

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

1:08:43

104

GUTIERREZ Sandra

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

1:10:36

105

ALZATE Andrea

Soltec Team

1:21:26

106

CALVO Tania

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

1:30:21

1

PERSICO Silvia

Valcar - Travel & Service

48

2

KOPECKY Lotte

Team SD Worx

48

3

LONGO BORGHINI Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

44

4

BALSAMO Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

41

5

VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek

Movistar Team

41

6

VOLLERING Demi

Team SD Worx

34

7

LIPPERT Liane

Team DSM

33

8

CHABBEY Elise

Canyon//SRAM Racing

32

9

NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna

Canyon//SRAM Racing

25

10

LUDWIG Cecilie Uttrup

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

23

11

MANLY Alexandra

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

19

12

BASTIANELLI Marta

UAE Team ADQ

16

13

JASTRAB Megan

Team DSM

14

14

SIERRA Arlenis

Movistar Team

12

15

BERTIZZOLO Sofia

UAE Team ADQ

12

16

GARCIA Mavi

UAE Team ADQ

11

17

CONFALONIERI Maria Giulia

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

10

18

LABOUS Juliette

Team DSM

10

19

NEUMANOVA Tereza

Liv Racing Xstra

9

20

BORGHESI Letizia

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

9

21

KOSTER Anouska

Team Jumbo-Visma

8

22

LETH Julie

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

7

23

EWERS Veronica

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

7

24

GUAZZINI Vittoria

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

6

25

SHACKLEY Anna

Team SD Worx

6

26

SANTESTEBAN Ane

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

6

27

KRAAK Amber

Team Jumbo-Visma

4

28

NORSGAARD Emma

Movistar Team

3

29

CHAPMAN Brodie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

2

30

NELSON Josie

Team Coop - Hitec Products

2

31

KIESENHOFER Anna

Soltec Team

1

1

BRAND Lucinda

Trek - Segafredo

44

2

VAN VLEUTEN Annemiek

Movistar Team

32

3

ROY Sarah

Canyon//SRAM Racing

22

4

LIPPERT Liane

Team DSM

20

5

NIEWIADOMA Katarzyna

Canyon//SRAM Racing

16

6

LONGO BORGHINI Elisa

Trek - Segafredo

16

7

VOLLERING Demi

Team SD Worx

15

8

SIERRA Arlenis

Movistar Team

9

9

CHABBEY Elise

Canyon//SRAM Racing

7

10

NORSGAARD Emma

Movistar Team

6

11

KOSTER Anouska

Team Jumbo-Visma

4

12

KIESENHOFER Anna

Soltec Team

3

13

GARCIA Mavi

UAE Team ADQ

3

14

CHAPMAN Brodie

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

2

15

PERSICO Silvia

Valcar - Travel & Service

2

16

CAMPBELL Teniel

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

2

17

VAS Blanka

Team SD Worx

1

1

Team SD Worx

36:27:46

2

FDJ - SUEZ - Futuroscope

5:45

3

Team DSM

6:09

4

Canyon//SRAM Racing

6:38

5

Team BikeExchange - Jayco

9:28

6

Movistar Team

10:29

7

Trek - Segafredo

18:49

8

UAE Team ADQ

19:12

9

Team Jumbo-Visma

31:48

10

Valcar - Travel & Service

32:05

11

Human Powered Health

36:41

12

EF Education-TIBCO-SVB

38:41

13

Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling

46:28

14

Uno-X Pro Cycling Team

51:12

15

Team Coop - Hitec Products

54:39

16

Liv Racing Xstra

1:00:20

17

Massi - Tactic Women Team

1:25:43

18

Bizkaia Durango

1:30:18

19

Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi

1:42:34

20

Soltec Team

2:17:36

21

Roland Cogeas Edelweiss Squad

2:32:20

Results provided by ProCyclingStats.

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