Lucinda Model (Lidl-Trek) went on the assault on the fourth and remaining stage of the Vuelta a Burgos Féminas, beginning the decisive climb of the Alto de Rozavientos a minute forward of the peloton and ultimately ending runner-up behind stage and GC winner Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).
Organisers rewarded Model with the combativity prize for her transfer, which can not have occurred with out Model’s actions on stage 1. On the opening day, Model stopped inside 150 metres of the road to ensure her crashed teammate, Elisa Balsamo, was all proper.
Since Model technically wasn’t straight held up by the crash, she was given a three-minute time deficit. With out this time loss, the 34-year-old Dutchwoman would theoretically have completed on the GC podium – however Model mentioned that issues have been extra difficult than that.
“Then I wouldn’t have gotten a one-minute benefit, to be sincere! I feel I nonetheless would have accomplished a superb climb, however not so good that I’d immediately be on the GC podium, we must be real looking. Generally, this additionally offers you some profit in one other approach,” Model advised Cyclingnews.
“I simply wished to attempt to get in a break at the moment as a result of I knew it might be a superb state of affairs for me with the descent within the remaining. It had nothing to do with the primary day. I simply felt good the entire week, so I wished to make one thing good out of it.”
Brazilian champion Tota Magalhães had been solo on the entrance of the race for nearly 20km earlier than Model joined her with 30km to go, bridging from a short-lived breakaway. Because the dwell footage was interrupted due to unhealthy climate, we requested Model to recap the motion.
“There was a little bit break going, however there was no actual cooperation. I attacked from that, and no one was reacting, so I may journey to her. Then I attempted to encourage her to simply maintain doing her finest, she was already struggling lots which was regular along with her solo journey earlier than. We simply tried to maintain up the tempo as a lot as doable,” she defined.
Collectively, they elevated their benefit to a minute earlier than Model continued on her personal on the Rozavientos climb.
“I nonetheless had round one minute, so I simply tried to discover a good tempo, have a superb rhythm. I knew that the second half was steeper, so I needed to maintain one thing left for that,” she mentioned.
Handed by Vollering on the final a part of the climb, Model nonetheless had an opportunity to possibly come again on the descent, however she was hampered by the lack of understanding on the hole to the GC chief. After the descent, Model was solely 22 seconds behind with 5km to go however misplaced floor once more on the slight uphill to the road, ending 51 seconds down ultimately.
“She did a extremely good descent; it was additionally a bit sketchy due to lots of stuff from the timber and little stones on the highway. Perhaps there have been motorbikes behind me, however I noticed nothing in entrance,” Model mentioned.
“At some moments, I did see a automotive, which I assumed was driving behind Demi, however I actually didn’t know till we have been down. It was a straight highway for a little bit bit, which was going up, in order that was in her benefit once more.”
