Annemiek van Vleuten wins Stage 2 to take control of La Madrid Challenge

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) wrestled control of La Madrid Challenge with a devastating performance in the mountains on Stage 2. Van Vleuten began Thursday’s lumpy run around Colindres 25 seconds down after the team time trial, but the Dutchwoman made light work of overhauling that gap as she put the hammer down with 28km remaining. Ad She soon soloed clear of a select five-strong group also containing Demi Vollering (SD Worx), Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo), Liane Lippert (Team DSM) and Mavi Garcia (UAE Emirates).

After that, it was Van Vleuten versus the clock. The 39-year-old time trialled her way to the finish, finishing over two minutes clear of the battle for second. Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta'Phenomenal' — Van Vleuten crushes competition to win Stage 216 MINUTES AGO The first attack on the stage, a 105.9km loop inset from the Cantabrian coast, comprising five categorised climbs, came from Olympic champion, Anna Kiesenhofer.

The Austrian spent little time at the front and was quickly reeled in. The next breakaway attempt was the one to stick, and came from established Women's WorldTour riders, Lucinda Brand (Trek Segafredo) and Sarah Roy (Canyon Sram.) The pair made light work of the first climb, the 6.5km Alto Fuente Las Varas, before progressing onto the second, the Alto Cruz de Usaño. Brand claimed maximum mountains points at the summit of both, as the pair's advantage over the Movistar-led peloton capped out at three minutes.