Van Dam secures an impressive third place for Team Visma | Lease a Bike in La Vuelta Femenina
# Sarah Van Dam Shines with Third Place Finish for Team Visma in La Vuelta Femenina
In a challenging stage from Padrón to A Coruña marred by rainy conditions, the riders faced a tough but thrilling race in La Vuelta Femenina. Despite the absence of categorised climbs, the undulating terrain kept the peloton on their toes. Two early breakaway riders managed to build a maximum lead of three and a half minutes, yet their efforts were in vain as they failed to outpace the chasing pack.
In the final moments of the race, Team Visma | Lease a Bike demonstrated resilience as they took control. Marion Bunel made a bold move in an attempt to capitalize on a momentary lull in the peloton, but found limited space to maneuver. Just two kilometers from the finish, French rider Cédrine Kerbaol executed a successful attack, breaking free from the pack to secure the stage victory.
Reflecting on the team dynamic, Sarah Van Dam noted, “It’s always nice when you look around in the final and see several teammates. That was very motivating.” Van Dam powered through the sprint to clinch third place, expressing her satisfaction, “I’m really happy with this. We rode very strongly as a team and stayed close together, especially when the hilly section began.”
Teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prévot praised Van Dam’s performance, stating, “I’m really happy for Sarah. We know how fast she is, but she’s starting to ride more and more like a champion. It’s lovely to see. The other girls did brilliantly today too. It didn’t result in a win just yet, but it is very promising.”
As the standings currently show, Van Dam is positioned fourth overall in the general classification, with Ferrand-Prévot in thirteenth. “I feel myself getting better and better. We haven’t had a long climb yet, but I can feel my legs getting stronger. That’s nice to see,” Ferrand-Prévot concluded optimistically.
### Stage 3 Results
1. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – 03:14:17
2. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx – Protime) – +00:00:04
3. Sarah Van Dam (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:04
4. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:04
### General Classification Standings
1. Franziska Koch (FDJ United – SUEZ) – 09:03:43
2. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx – Protime) – +00:00:02
3. Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) – +00:00:04
4. Sarah Van Dam (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:14
13. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) – +00:00:18
The race continues to unfold with each team vying for supremacy, and the promising performances from Team Visma | Lease a Bike hint at a competitive future in La Vuelta Femenina.
