MADRID, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Former world champion Anna van der Breggen of SD Worx-Protime claimed her first win after coming out of retirement at the start of the year in the fourth stage of La Vuelta Femenina, the Women's Tour of Spain on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old Rio Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion shocked the cycling world when she retired from competitive racing at the end of 2021, but made a return at the start of this year after three years working with the management of her team.
She was back to her competitive best on Wednesday to emerge victorious in the hilly 111.6-kilometer stage between Pedrola and Borja in the north of Spain.
Van der Breggen launched a solo attack on the descent of the Puerto del Buste climb, around seven kilometers from the finish and although an 18-rider chasing group always had her in its sights, a failure to collaborate among other race favorites allowed her to stay in front and even extend her lead in the last kilometer.
The group finished 12 seconds later, with Marianne Vos of Visma-Lease a Bike finishing second ahead of last year's tournament winner Demi Vollering of FDJ-Suez.
Femke Gerritse of SD Worx-Protime maintains the overall lead after picking up a time bonus in the intermediate sprint.
"I did not expect this at all. It was not the plan, but we were with a small group in the downhill, and at that point, I was alone. The speed went out, and I saw a good moment, so I went. I did not expect to arrive solo, but it feels really nice," said Van der Breggen in her post-stage interview.
Vollering will be targeting the overall lead in Thursday's fifth stage, which is 120.4 kilometers between Golmayo and Lagunas de Neila, featuring a second category climb with an average gradient of 8.1 percent and a seven-kilometer climb with some ramps reaching 13 percent. ■