Festival Elsy Jacobs: Marta Bastianelli takes opening stage victory
UAE Team ADQ rider beats Wollaston and Gasparrini in Steinfort
Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ) took victory on the opening stage of the Festival Elsy Jacobs in Steinfort, grabbing her second win of the season ahead of Ally Wollaston (AG Insurance-Soudal-QuickStep) and her UAE teammate Eleonora Gasparrini.
The 111km stage, the first of two at the race, took the peloton into the hills, including a hilly closing circuit that featured the Côte de Septfontaines (1.3km at 7.8%). That climb came for the final time at around 10km from the line.
It was there that the decisive move was made, with Anouska Koster (Uno-X) moving clear of the peloton along with Bastianelli, Wollaston, and Gasparrini.
That attacking quartet would then race on towards the finish line, where the experienced Bastianelli prevailed in the sprint finish.
Having taken 10 bonus seconds at the finish as well as a three-second time bonus earlier in the stage, Bastianelli now enjoys a strong advantage heading into Sunday's closing stage. She lies five seconds up on Wollaston, seven up on Gasparrini, and eight up on Koster.
The chasing peloton was led home by Femke Gerritse (Parkhotel Valkenburg), who lies fifth at 13 seconds down.
Bastianelli, who won the race last year after winning the opening stage in similar fashion, is now in the driving seat ahead of the 115km stage to Garnich, another day in the hills in Luxembourg.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Results
Results powered by FirstCycling
Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor before being hired full-time. Her favourite races include the Paris-Roubaix, Tour de France Femmes, Tro-Bro Léon, and cycling's fourth Grand Tour, the Volta a Portugal.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'My life long dream has come true' - Rising gravel stars carve close victories at Iceman Cometh against former winners Alexey Vermeulen, Deanna Mayles
Traverse City-native Kyan Olshove wins emotional two-up sprint on uphill sprint against three-time champion -
Inside a WorldTour pro's off-season: Watching NBA with Remco, much-needed days on the couch, and exhausting wind tunnel tests - Luke Tuckwell's column
Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe rider and Cyclingnews columnist details his time off the bike, why he's sad to say goodbye to the 2026 season, and why wind tunnel testing is both brutal and rewarding -
'If I start discussing contracts here, I think I'll go crazy' – Paul Seixas not thinking about future deal as off-season rolls on
'We'll see what I think about it in the future. But for now, I'm giving myself time' -
Relaxed Primož Roglič gets back on the bike for Taiwan Masters Ride despite time and options for finding new team in 2027 running low
Slovenian's future remains unknown despite winning European time trial title and finishing second in Vuelta in 2026



