La Vuelta Challenge (st. 1)

Jelena gets support from Gloria Rodríguez and the Blues heading into Escalona's final slope, comes close to bonus seconds before Saturday's Boadilla ITT, Sunday's decisive Madrid circuit.

Dutchwoman Lorena Wiebes (SUN) took the victory at the opening stage of the 2020 La Vuelta Challenge, over 83km of a lumpy, windy course in the Toledo province, towards Escalona. The former national champion bested Elisa Balsamo (VAL), Lisa Brennauer (WNT) and a remarkable Jelena Erić, 4th for the Movistar Team after some good work from the Blues near the finish.

As the day’s only noticeable breaks by Mireia Benito (MAT) and Malgorzata Jasinska (CDO) before the gentle descent towards the uphill finish in the Castillo, Gloria Rodríguez showed great skills to lead the Telefónica-back squad’s two main hopes for the sprint: Guarischi and Erić, who came up just short for a five-second bonus for third place.

The Serbian will tackle a difficult test on Saturday at the Boadilla TT, a techinical 9km course before Sunday’s Cibeles circuit in central Madrid.

— TT start order (Saturday 7th): Teruel 11.23, Aalerud 11.24, González 11.25, Rodríguez 11.44, Guarischi 11.56, Eric 12.32.

Cover picture (c): Velofocus