Dominika Wlodarczyk wins in Amorebieta-Etxano after a very hard-fought stage
Mischa Bredewold holds onto the yellow jersey
Today’s second stage of Itzulia Women 2026 set off from Abadiño and finished in Amorebieta-Etxano. This was the longest stage of this year’s race, covering 138 kilometres and featuring five mountain climbs. Mischa Bredewold wore the yellow jersey at the start, wearing a big smile and with a clear plan: “stick to the same strategy as in the first stage”.
The stage opened with three points-scoring climbs and an attack by Nikola Noskova (CWT, 141), who opened up a gap of 58” on the peloton at the 40-kilometre mark. The peloton controlled the race, not allowing the Cofidis rider to build up a lead of more than one minute The breakaway was caught at the start of the climb up to San Pelaio.
The race continued with all teams keeping a tight watch on each other until 30 kilometres from the finish, when riders started to try to break away following the intermediate sprint at Ibarra. A group of 10 cyclists managed to pull away a little from the peloton, but the FDJ United-SUEZ team closed the gap, bringing the whole peloton back together.
A few kilometres up the road, Caroline Andersson (LIV, 35) pulled away and built up a 20-second lead. There was a lot of action on the final climb of the stage, with Juliette Berthet (TFS, 11), Evita Muzic (TFS, 15), Antonia Niedermaier (CSZ, 23) and Liane Lippert (MOV, 61) launching attacks from the peloton. Some of the other favourites formed a group behind them. The favourites for the overall classification regrouped on the descent after the climb, and finally managed to catch Caroline Andersson (LIV, 35).
On the next few steep sections, Liane Lippert (MOV, 61) launched an attack that no one else was able to keep up with. With just 17 kilometres to the finish line and a bonus sprint to be won, the Movistar rider had a 20-second lead over the peloton. Stuck in between those two groups was Loes Adegeest (LTK, 46). Lippert crashed on the descent and lost the lead she had built up. Loes Adegeest (LTK, 46) was now leading the race with just 14 kilometres to go, but the group of favourites was right behind her.
Everything was still on the line as they entered the final 8 kilometres. The leading group was bunched together, with the yellow jersey among them. Lidl-Trek team leader Shirin van Anrooij (LTK, 41) launched an attack, and Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91) went with her. They had built up a 17-second gap with only 3 kilometres of the race remaining.
The stage was decided in a sprint finish, with Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91) proving to be too strong for the rest and taking the second stage of Itzulia Women 2026, just ahead of the yellow jersey.
The general classification saw no major changes, although Mischa Bredewold added a few seconds to her lead thanks to time bonuses.
Standings after Stage 2
Stage winner: Dominika Wlodarczyk (UAD, 91)
Overall individual ranking: Mischa Bredewold (SDW, 71)
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: Nikola Noskova (CWT, 141)
