Blasi wins La Vuelta Femenina 2026 on the Angliru

Seven stages across north-west Spain

The fourth edition of La Vuelta Femenina ran from Sunday 3 to Saturday 9 May 2026 and, unlike the men's race, stayed entirely within Spanish territory. Seven stages and 819.5 kilometres took the peloton straight through Galicia, briefly into Castile and León, and finally into the mountains of Asturias — starting from the Galician coastal town of Marín.

Van der Breggen strikes, but the Angliru decides

On day six it was Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx–Protime) who won the race's first summit finish on the fearsome wall of Les Praeres de Nava — nearly four kilometres averaging 13.5%, ramping to 27% — and took over the leader's jersey. Everything would therefore come down to the final day, on a climb the cycling world had been talking about for weeks.

Stage 7 delivered that history: for the first time ever the women's peloton climbed the Alto de l'Angliru, the feared Asturian giant of 12.5 kilometres averaging 10%, with ramps of up to 23%. On that climb, 21-year-old home rider Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) launched a breathtaking finishing move and claimed both the red jersey — 24 seconds ahead of Van der Breggen — and the mountains classification. Frenchwoman Marion Bunel (Visma–Lease a Bike) rode to third place at 49 seconds, also winning the young rider classification.

Kopecky claims the points classification, SD Worx–Protime dominates

Alongside Blasi's red jersey, the points classification also went to an SD Worx–Protime rider: Belgium's Lotte Kopecky once again proved her versatility, hoovering up points across the flatter and rolling stages. With Van der Breggen second overall and Kopecky in green, SD Worx–Protime also claimed the team classification — a dominant week for the Dutch-Belgian outfit, despite the overall win going to the home favourite.

Blasi's breakthrough as a launchpad for a big season

Blasi's victory was no one-off. Later that season the Spaniard confirmed her level with a fine fifth place overall at the Tour de France Femmes 2026 — proof that her breakthrough on the Angliru was the start of something bigger.

Three weeks after the Vuelta Femenina came the next chapter of the women's season: the Giro d'Italia Women 2026, won by Demi Vollering. Curious which La Vuelta Femenina rider matches you best? Take the quiz and find out whether you're more of a Blasi, a Van der Breggen, a Bunel or a Kopecky.