La Vuelta Femenina: Annamiek van Vleuten wins third title in a row

Demi Vollering of the Netherlands and Team SD Worx (left) and Annemiek van Vleuten of The Netherlands and Movistar Team at La Vuelta Femenina

Dutch rider Annamiek van Vleuten won a third consecutive La Vuelta title, taking victory by just nine seconds from compatriot Demi Vollering.

Movistar’s Van Vleuten, 40, started the seventh and final stage with a one minute 11 second lead.

But Team SD Worx’s Vollering almost snatched overall victory by taking the final stage – a mountain finish at the summit of Lagos de Covadonga.

Van Vleuten came in third, 56 seconds behind Vollering, but it was enough.

“I’m happy but exhausted,” said Van Vleuten, who is also the world road champion.

Italian Gaia Realini was second on the stage and finished third overall.

Van Vleuten had taken the overall lead from Vollering in controversial circumstances on Saturday as the 26-year-old took a toilet break and then got caught in a crosswind.

“If it hadn’t been for that, I’d have won this Vuelta,” Vollering said.

Claire Steels, riding for Israel Premier Tech Roland, was the highest-placed British rider in 18th on Sunday, finishing 15th overall and 11 minutes 44 seconds behind the winner.

This year’s version of the Spanish race was rebranded La Vuelta Femenina, replacing the Challenge by La Vuelta, and was extended from five to seven stages.