Dominika Wlodarczyk wins the third and final stage, taking her second victory of this year’s race
Mischa Bredewold wins Itzulia Women 2026
Yara Kastelijn and Lauren Dickson completed the podium.
Today was the third and final stage of Itzulia Women 2026, and it started and finished in San Sebastian. It followed the usual route of the Clásica de San Sebastián. Mischa Bredewold lined up at the start wearing the yellow jersey, with a 16-second lead over the second-placed rider, Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103). The other favourites were also still close enough in the general classification to mount a challenge for the yellow jersey.
The stage began with a number of breakaway attempts, none of which were successful.0 The terrain posed no major difficulties, making it ideal for an early breakaway. At the 27-kilometre mark, Noémie Abgrall (MPE, 181) managed to open up a small gap over the peloton, followed by Maria Roldan (TPP, 115M) and a group of around 20 riders. The gap to the peloton was only around 35 seconds, and the peloton was able to catch the breakaway before starting the climb up Jaizkibel.
The attacks kept coming but they all failed. Team SD Worxs-Protime had no trouble controlling the race and shutting down the attacks when they came. Several riders launched attacks again on the climb up to Gurutze. Nadia Quagliotto (CWT, 146) tried hard to open up a gap but without success. The peloton stayed closely bunched up, with the favourites for the general classification keen to contest the sprint at the finish line for the time bonus. Every little bit counts when it comes to taking the title.
With 29 kilometres to go, Laboral Kutxa’s Paula Patiño (LKF, 56) made a move, but the Movistar Team closed the gap. After the second intermediate sprint, the peloton let Nina Buijsman (HPH, 86) and Morgane Coston (MPE, 183) break away to a 50-second lead. The peloton caught up with Coston, but Buijsman managed to keep going at the front. She was eventually overhauled by the peloton as she got near to the climb.
As the climb began, Juliette Bethet set a very good pace from the start, leaving the strongest riders in her wake. Bredewold managed to hold on to the lead group, while Niedermaier took over and set the pace on the climb, with the whole group now riding in single file. Liane Lippert (MOV, 61) dropped back from the leading group, whilst Mischa Bredewold gave it her all to stay with the group. With only 14 kilometres remaining, this group of the strongest riders also included Usoa Ostolaza. The world champion and the yellow jersey rider dropped a few metres off the back of the group. The race leader was pacing herself so that she would not blow up. The pace set by Niedermaier reduced the leading group to just seven riders: Juliette Berthet (TFS, 11), Lauren Dickson (TFS, 13), Evita Muzic (TFS, 15), Antonia Niedermaier (CSZ, 23), Usoa Ostolaza (LKF, 55), Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91) and Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103).
The yellow jersey lost 30 seconds, and the provisional race leader was now Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103). However, Mischa Bredewold gave everything she had on the descent to reduce the gap, which she was able to do. She had managed to close the gap to the leading group to just 10 seconds by the time she reached the bottom. The last 3 kilometres of Itzulia Women 2026 turned into a time trial for the Dutch cyclist, who left the two Lidl-Trek riders who had been with her behind.
Up ahead, Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91) won another sprint finish, securing her second stage victory in this year’s race. Meanwhile, after struggling up the final climb and then making up the lost ground in the final few kilometres, Mischa Bredewold held on to win Itzulia Women 2026.
Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103) and Lauren Dickson (TFS, 13) completed the podium.
Standings after Stage 3
Stage winner: Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91)
Overall individual ranking: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
Second place: Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103)
Third place: Lauren Dickson (TFS, 13)
Mountain classification: Yara Kastelijn (FPC, 103)
Overall points classification: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
Overall ranking best young rider: Ema Comte (CWT, 144)
Overall team classification: FDJ United-SUEZ
Overall ranking best Basque rider: Usoa Ostolaza (LKF, 74)
Most combative: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
