Unlike the opening two stages, stage 3 of Vuelta a Burgos featured a more demanding finale, with two passages over Alto de Bocos (3km at 6.2%) in the final 35km. Multiple attacks in the opening 40km led to a breakaway of 5: González, Rysz, Valentin, Hashimi and Spimi. Spimi took the sprint, but the peloton reeled the group back in on the first ascent of Alto de Bocos, where Caroline Andersson sprinted for the QOM points.
After the descent, with 27 km to go, Mireia Benito attacked solo and quickly built an advantage of over one minute. On the second ascent, however, the peloton raised the pace first with EF and then with Bredewold, who imposed a brutal rhythm. Only around 20 riders managed to follow, including a surprising Wiebes. Benito still held a 40" lead over the summit. After the descent, Bredewold attacked together with Smulders and Spratt. With 7km remaining, the Dutch rider accelerated again and quickly bridged across to Benito, once more showcasing the incredible form that brought her overall victory at Itzulia Women last week.
The front duo eventually contested the stage win, with Bredewold comfortably beating the Spanish rider in the sprint despite leading it out from the front. 10" later, Wiebes dominated the sprint for third, opening a two-second gap over the rest of the group led by Moolman, Ostolaza and Kerbaol. Lorena Wiebes keeps the GC lead by 3" over her teammate ahead of tomorrow’s queen stage, finishing atop Lagunas de Neila (6km, 10%). On paper the climb should be too demanding for Bredewold, but considering her current form, nothing can be ruled out.