As it happened: Spanish glory at La Vuelta Femenina as the climbers put on a show on L'Angliru on stage 7

Good morning, it's an early start for the final, race defining stage of this year's Vuelta Femenina, so thanks for joining our live coverage.

Friday's sixth stage to Less Praeres was a brutal race of attrition.

Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) routed her rivals to take the stage win and overall race lead.

Today's stage to the fabled climb of L'Angliru could well bring more of the same attrition. We roll out at 10:25 local time, starting with 4.5km of neutral before getting the show on the road.

The closing brutal stage to at the end of the toughest Vuelta Femenina to date.

The final moments of the battle for the overall title are set to be played out on the slopes of L'Angrilu.

The teams are signed on, including race leader Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime).

The climbs come straight from the gun today, so Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) is getting warmed up.

We're rolling for 4.5km of neutral, but who's in what jersey?

Who's leading the race after stage 6?

We're in Asturias now and in this part of Spain the weather is never too predictable. The forecast shows a cloudy day with a chance of some rain late on. It might get as warm as 20º with light winds from the south-east.

And here we go!
The flag has dropped and the final stage is go!

The flag has dropped

111 riders take to the start. There are more abandon this morning, Marie Le Net (FDJ UNited-SUEZ) did not start.

Today is the queen stage, by far the toughest day of the seven stages, at 132.8 not only is it the longest, at 132.8km, it has the most climbing, with 3,271m of elevation and finishing at the top of L'Angrilu.

We head west from the start, veering north for an anti-clockwise loop, heading back on ourselves before taking a right turn to head for the final climb. It's winds and wends and is up and down all day.

WE have lots of attacks at the front of the race.

We've got four classified climbs, two third category, one second category and the final Especial category L'Angliru to close the day. To add insult to injury there's an intermediate sprint between the last two climbs.

If anyone wants to establish a breakaway they need to get away quickly as the first of those climbs comes pretty soon. The Alto de Santo Emiliano starts after 10km, it's 5.2km and averages 5.9%. After a week's racing this'll be tough.

The climbing begins and the peloton is all together on the opening slopes of the climb.

Alto de Santo Emiliano

They're flying along at the moment, the average speed remains above 50km/h. No one will get away from that.

Though the average speed has dropped, we've got a very high pace on the climb with Lidl-Trek making it hard. The peloton has split in two.

120km to go

All the jerseys are in the front group at the moment, and while the peloton has re-formed plenty of riders are dropped already. It's going to be a very long hard day for them.

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney was won of the pre-race favourites, but sometimes things don't work out the you hope.

"Sometimes you just mentally crack," she said.

What a start it's been, we're getting reports that only 45 riders are left in the front group.

This may come back together as it's 60km from the top of the climb until the foot of the next, the Alto del Tejera.

Well, maybe not. Six riders have broken away over the top.
Our top three of Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ and Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike) were all there, but now they're back together, a complete peloton takiing on the descent.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal) was the first rider over the top and she takes the lead in the mountains classification. Van der Breggen is in second, while the previous leader, Alice Coutinho (Mayenne-Monbana My Pie) is now third.

Femke Markus (SD Worx-Protime) has attacked alone. This is an interesting most from Anna van der Breggen's team. Markus began the day more than nine minutes behind her team leader.

Femke's sister, Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek), who we saw warming up earlier, is now trying to reach the front, they're together, 18 seconds in front of the peloton.

100km to go

There's a Movistar rider trying to chase the Markus sisters now.

Now more riders are trying to bridge to the leading duo, we don't have any more details at the moment.

Markus and Markus continue to lead, but the chasing group has been caught and the sisters' advantage is down to only 15 seconds.

With the peloton so close, Liane Lippert has managed to bridge to the leaders.
We now have Femke Markus (SD Worx-Protime), Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) and Liane Lippert (Movistar) at the front, though their advantage is very small.

90km to go

Markus, Markus and Lippert's lead is growing. We knew Movistar were chasing and it seems the idea was to get someone up the road.

Finally the breakaway is established, Markus, Markus and Lippert lead the peloton by just over one minute.

With the leading trio 1.20 up the road Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal) attacked, but she was soon back in the pack.

Now the break is properly established, Markus, Markus and Lippert lead the race by 1.30.

Markus, Markus and Lippert lead the stage by 1.30 while UAE Team ADQ lead the chase.
UAE lost two riders yesterday, Maëva Squiban to a crash and Greta Marturano to the consequences of an earlier crash.

80km to go

Markus, Markus and Lippert have extended their lead out to 1.43 as the race settles after an incredibly aggressive start.

Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) has been one of the riders of the spring, and she remains within touching distance of the overall win after finishing second on Friday.

She finished stage 6 with a "bittersweet feeling."

We've just crested a short climb and the race is now on the run into the next climb. Markus, Markus and Lippert have extended their lead slightly to 2.10.

70km to go

At the halfway mark of today's 132.8km stage Femke Markus (SD Worx-Protime), Riejanne Markus (Lidl-Trek) and Liane Lippert (Movistar) lead by 2.42.

The next climb is the Alto del Tejera the day's second third category climb. Starting 62km from the line, this is only 4.7% over its 4.4km.

At the foot of the climb the breakaway's advantage is out to 3.00. One of the biggest leads of any break all week.

60km to go

We've had a few abandons today. Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypoto) has just pulled the plug, while her team mate, Maria Martins and Nora Jencusova (Vini Fantini-BePink) pulled out earlier.

Four minutes really is one of the biggest leads for a breakaway, but that's where it stands for Markus, Markus and Lippert at the moment.

The breakaway crest the climb, but this is where things begin to get really difficult. There's a short descent, then gradients of around 10% punctuate a short unclassified climb, before the race heads to the penultimate climb of the race.

Markus, Markus and Lippert lead the stage by 3.57 with FDJ United-SUEZ leading the peloton.
Lippert is the biggest threat for the GC in the group, she started the day only 3.47 behind Van der Breggen's overall lead, so is currently the virtual leader overall.

50km to go

Off the descent from the unclassified climb now, the race tackles 8.5km of false flat before they reach the foot of the Alto Tenebreo.

Deep in the stage, and there'll be a few deep in the hurt locker after the next 10km. The approach to the Alto Tenebreo comprises a series of steep steps, some of those steps including gradients deep into double figure percentages.

In anticipation of the climb, the advantage for the breakaway is beginning to come down. Markus, Markus and Lippert have only 3.30 on the pack.

After their fast start today has already been a tough day out, but it's about to get more challenging. 3.35 is the lead for our breakaway.

40km to go

The Alto Tenebreo itself is the first 2nd category climb of the entire race, this is 3.2km at a sapping 9.7% average gradient, with ramps of 20%.
We're there now and we reckon the race might have a different complexion after the peak.

As we ascend, the gap is coming down now, Markus, Markus and Lippert have only 2.47 on the bunch, Lippert slipping out of the virtual red jersey.

UAE Team ADQ are on the front, alongside the massed ranks of SD Worx, while our favourites sit close to one another in the group, which has shrunk on the climb.

This climb is really stretching the peloton with plenty of riders sliding off the back.
1km from the top and the bunch are just two minutes behind the breakaway.

Over the top of the penultimate climb and Markus, Markus and Lippert's lead is no below two minutes.

Lippert leads over the top of the climb, with Riejanne Markus second and her sister Femke in third. Femke seemed to be struggling to struggling as she reached the top, but she has a tiny bit of recovery before the main course.

As what remains of the peloton crest the Alto del Tenebredo they're just 1.05 behind the leaders.

This is the stage that keeps on giving, after the penultimate climb there's an intermediate sprint with bonus seconds on the line in Las Mazas. Will anyone sprint for the time, or will they hope to make the difference on the final climb?

On the descent some of those riders dropped from the favourites' group are getting back on, they'll be able to help their leaders into the climb.

30km to go

Lippert is clearly the better descender, waiting for the Markus sisters to ensure the three of them get as far as possible before they're caught.

The peloton is flying down the descent, though the breakaway still have 55 seconds' lead.

We're 26km from the line and from here on in it's basically uphill. Whether that be false flat through the sprint, which comes 17km from the line, or on the brutal L'Angliru.

The gap is extending a little at the moment, it's out to 1.32 as the leaders continue working well.
Visma-Lease a Bike lead the chase, with Tour de France Femmes winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on the fornt.

All change as Visma slip back and UAE Team ADQ take over, while Van der Breggen moves onto the wheels of three team mates.

There's a little feeling of calm before the storm at the moment. Riders feeding and sorting clothing. There's no rain just yet, though there's no blazing sunshine either.

20km to go

Markus, Markus and Lippert lead by 2.39 now, this lull behind will probably allow them the get onto the climb before they're caught.
Lippert is probably the best climber, though Riejanne Markus is also very good.

Now the race is up, into the intermediate sprint, Lotte Kopecky and Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) looking for the point for the green jersey competition.
Koch takes it.

Markus, Markus and Lippert have stretched their advantage once again, they're 2.10 ahead and still going well.

FDJ are doing the work now, the gaps remains, but we're inside the final 3km before the climb.

Lippert, out of the saddle leads the Markus sisters in the break which leads the favourites' groupie 2.09, FDJ continue to lead the chase.

15km to go

AG Insurance, Lidl-Trek and EF Education-Oatly lead the chase now as the breakaway's advantage drops below two minutes again.

L'Angliru

L'Angliru is one the toughest climbs in the sport and with proper justification. It's a brute, the 9.7% gradient for 12.4km barely tells the story. The middle 6km averages 13.7% and ramps of 20% are not uncommon.

The favourites' group hits the climb as Riejanne Markus slips out of the breakaway.
The gap has quickly shrunk to only 1.34.

Lippert is alone at the front now, Femke Markus dropped, with the favourites' group now 1.35 behind the front of the race.
Visma-Lease a Bike and UNO-X Mobility lead.

This is a great climb from Lippert, she's holding a lead of 1.40 on the group. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance-Soudal is slipping out of the pack.

UNO-X are going hard on the front of the group, but they're not taking too much time out of Lippert's lead.

10km to go

With Lotte Kopecky already dropped, Anna van der Breggen loses another SD Worx team mate as Mischa Bredewold slips out of the group.

The toughest section comes with 7km to go, so Lippert has a little while before she gets there. Riejanne Markus is caught as UNO-X continue to lead the chase.
Lippert's lead is 1.31.

Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is almost dropped from the group, but this is more a preparation race for the Visma-Lease a Bike rider to defend her Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift title.

Femke Markus is now caught, UNO-X still lead the chase, 1.16 behind Lippert.
The climb eases to just 2.2% now, only for it to rear up shortly aferwards

With Femke Markus caught she sits on the front of the group, working for team mate Van der Breggen.

Here we go, Lippert's cadence drops now as she hits the stepper slopes in her easiest gear. UNO-X still lead the chase, but they're not quite there yet.

Katrine Aalerud takes over on the front from her UNO-X team mate as the gradients begin the bite.

Italian climber Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) ups the pace on at the front of the group, Valentina Cavallar (SD Worx-Protime) sits on her wheel as Lippert's advantage drops below one minute.

Kaisa Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram-zondacrypto) is struggling as now Petra Strays (Human Powered Health) sets the pace. Aalerud is dropped.
Thisis sickeningly steep, but it's not the worstt bit just yet.

We have a small group now, Stiasny, Cavallar, Van der Breggen, Marion Bunel (Visma-Lease a Bike), Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) Juliette Berthet (FDJ United-SUEZ), they just a few seconds behind Lippert now.

Stiasny is still on the front as Lippert is dropped Van der Breggen is defending the jersey in third wheel.
Stiasny started the day more than 13 minutes down, so is no GC threat.

5km to go

Stiasny still leads, Berthet sits second wheel, then Van der Breggen, Blasi and Bunel. Cavallar is dropped.

BUnel moves to the front, possibly sensing Van der Breggen is suffering, the red jersey is out of the saddle trying to maintain contact.

Bunel has a gap on Blasi, with Van der Breggen on the Spanish rider's wheel.
Is this the changing of the guard?

Van der Breggen is in trouble here. Blasi heads off to catch Bunel as the Dutch woman drops behind Stiasny and Berthet.

4km to go.

Van der Breggen spinning a huge sprocket but she's off the back. Blasi leads with Bunel on the wheel.

Is she managing herself or in desperate trouble?

Blasi was only 18 seconds behind Van der Breggen at the start of the day, she more than that behind her Spanish rival now with 3.4km to go.

Blasi alone now, Bunel is dropped as Uška Žigart (AG Insurance-Soudal) catches and passes the red jersey.
She's 40 secnds behind Blasi and has help from Cavallar now.

Remember how Blasi rode to victory at Amstel Gold Race, if she can hold on she will be the first ever stage winner at La Vuelta and winner overall.

3km to go.

Van der Breggen in red is dropped by her team mate Cavallar, her overall lead way up the road ahead of her.
Blasi, making history, is all focus, though she's hurting.

Stiasny is coming back to Blasi, we're on 21% gradients, but it's 100% effort going into each of Blasi's pedal strokes.

23% now, it's horrendous, but Blasi is holding on. The gradient eases in the final 1500m, but Stiasny is almost back.

2km to go

Stiasny burst on the scene at the final stage of the 2022 Tour de Romandie, finishing 5th at the Thyon 2000 ski resort.
She catches Blasi.

2km to go

Stiasny is at the front and ahead of Blasi now, by just a few bike lengths.

Stiasny might have this, Blasi looks cooked. Van der Breggen in the red jersey is way down and out of contention now.

Stiasny has a very decent gap over Blasi, but can the former distance runner hold on? She's almost spinning the gears as the gradient eases to something more humane.

Back in the saddle after a steep ramp, Stiasny is looking strong into the final 1000m.

1,000m

It's almost comfortable for Stiasny now, Blasi too is spinning as we drop to single figure gradients now, the Spaniard heading to GC victory.

You can hear Stiasny's laboured breathing as she rides to glory, only misfortune can take the win from the Swiss rider now.

Blasi too is riding to glory, a Spanish woman riding to win her home tour.

Stiasny wins the stage, Paula Blasi finishes second with Van der Breggen nowhere in sight. Berthet is third.
But a Spanish star is born in Paula Blasi.

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Van der Breggen hangs on to finish fifth on the stage, 59 seconds behind Stiasny, 36 behind Blasi, and finishes second on GC. Marion Bunel clings on to take third overall.

Stiasny has not had it easy since that performance in 2022. She struggles in the bunch sometimes, and descents are not her friend, but Saturday was redemption for someone who is obviously one of the world's best pure climbers.

"I'm I still, can't believe it honestly, I'm lost for words, for me it's incredible," she said.
"When they announced it, that the Angliru would be part of the Vuelta, I had only one thing in my head, for me it was a dream, a dream to win this stage. , You know you have to arrive to the day, it can happen so many things during the week, and finally today was the day I was looking forward so long to. I told at the beginning of the week my sports director, 'you know when I arrive at the Angliru I feel free, I feel in my place my happy place.'"

As for Blasi, what a spring. It might be easy to forget she won the mountain time trial at the Tour de Romandie last year, but since winning Amstel Gold Race three weeks ago, she has rocketed from anonymity to super stardom.
Her team were fully invested in her and she rode maturly, especially so consudering shebegan racing only in 2024.

For years people have talked of the women's sport as growing and there being more depth in the peloton, but still it was mostly the same, incredibly talented riders winning the biggest races. But not this week.
So, some of the top riders were missing or were at different points in their training cycle, but Blasi won fair and square. Not only is she only 23, and inexperienced but she is a new name and the personification of the sport's advancement.
Marion Bunel was third overall and, at only 21, is another young woman heading to the top of the sport.

It may be that this week was a genuine changing of the guard, where the names we have grown so used to seeing on the podiums of the biggest races being to fade as the young guns take over.
Whatever, it's been a pleasure bringing it to you. See you soon.

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