Lauren Stephens wins Clasica de Almeria

Lauren Stephens (Cynisca Cycling) took the victory at the Clasica de Almeria on Sunday winning a two-up sprint ahead of runner-up Yuliia Biriukova (Human Powered Health). 

Biriukova's teammate Linda Zanetti rounded out the podium in third place after winning a chase-group sprint at 9 seconds back.

The race offered the peloton a 102km race at Puebla de Vícar with three back-to-back ascents at Alto de Rio Chico, Alto de San Roque and Alto Aljibe de la Cruz before a coastal un-in to Puebla de Vícar.

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It was a windy day across the 102 kilometres, marked by the set of triple categorised climbs that began at the mid-point of the one-day race, adding up to 25km of climbing to the top of Alto Aljibe de la Cruz. 

Once the climbing began, the lead group contained only 10 riders. Biriukova took the top QOM points across the summit of Alto Aljibe de la Cruz, with Stephens rolling through second and Adèle Normand (Eneicat) on her wheel. The trio then moved ahead as a group with 28.5km to go.

Across the long descent of the final climb, Stephens and Biriukova distanced Normand to set up the sprint. Stephens won by several bike lengths on just her second race day of the year, finishing 13th at Vuelta CV Feminas in early February.

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