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, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
'A free mind equals fast legs' – How my mental state helped me wear the yellow jersey for two days at an unforgettable Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
In Luke Tuckwell's latest column for Cyclingnews, he recalls his memorable week in France, and how he went from tears in training to his first yellow jersey -
Tour de France prize money explained: What is at stake for the 2026 edition?
Over €2.5 million in prize money up for grabs this July, and plenty of ways to earn a slice of it -
American Criterium Cup: New Zealand riders sweep elite races at Downer Classic in Wisconsin and hold off series leaders in tight sprints
Bryony Botha and George Jackson win second stop of ACC and score titles across 11-day regional racing calendar at Tour of America's Dairyland -
Giant overhauls gravel range with two new bikes and a suite of gravel components
Just when we thought the gravel releases were over for the year, Giant has released a slew of new gravel products



