Team Visma | Lease a Bike shows resilience with Van Dam’s fifth place in the second stage of La Vuelta Femenina

# Resilience on Display: Team Visma | Lease a Bike’s Strong Performance Despite Vos’ Departure at La Vuelta Femenina

The second stage of La Vuelta Femenina proved to be a test of endurance and determination for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, following the unfortunate withdrawal of star rider Marianne Vos. The 38-year-old cyclist suffered a collarbone injury after crashing at the finale of the opening stage but showed remarkable grit by pushing through to secure a seventh-place finish before being sidelined. “We tried to give it our all today with Marianne in mind,” stated Sarah Van Dam after the race, embodying the team’s collective spirit.

With Vos absent, the team competed fiercely over a 110-kilometre stage stretching from Lobios to San Cibrao das Vinas. The initial part of the race saw an aggressive pace, with five riders managing to break away from the main peloton. However, as the race progressed and with just under thirty kilometres remaining, the breakaway was reeled in, setting the stage for a challenging finish in Galicia.

In the midst of this competition, Sarah Van Dam stood out, contesting the finish with fellow riders Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Marion Bunel. The sprint culminated with Shari Bossuyt of AG Insurance – Soudal Team taking victory, while Van Dam claimed an impressive fifth place. “This was a great opportunity for me to go for a result,” expressed Van Dam. “My goal was to stay in Pauline’s slipstream for as long as possible and see how far I could get from there. I felt good. I came close, but it just wasn’t quite enough.”

Team Sports Director Jos van Emden praised the squad’s resilience in light of Vos’ withdrawal. “They’ve handled things well following Marianne’s withdrawal. Looking at the sprint, Sarah’s fifth place is a good reflection of that. It’s not just Pauline and Sarah, but the whole team that’s making a good impression. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be an interesting day,” he affirmed.

As the standings for Stage 2 were released, Van Dam and Ferrand-Prévot found themselves in respectable positions, ranking 12th and 11th overall, respectively, as they aim for further success in this challenging competition.