Paula Blasi sealed overall victory at the CIC-Tour Féminin des Pyrénées, completing a dominant week for UAE Team ADQ on French roads. In the third and final stage, a 114.4-kilometre route from Nay to Jurançon, the team controlled the race with authority, managing the day’s breakaway and comfortably defending its positions at the top of the general classification.
The foundations of the success were laid on yesterday’s queen stage featuring the iconic Col du Tourmalet, where UAE Team ADQ delivered a commanding performance that ultimately secured a remarkable one-two in the final standings, with Paula Blasi taking overall victory ahead of teammate Dominika Włodarczyk.
For the 23-year-old Spaniard, this marks her fifth victory of the season and further confirms her status as one of the most exciting rising stars in women’s cycling. After her victories at the Amstel Gold Race, La Vuelta Femenina, Durango and yesterday’s queen stage, Blasi now adds the overall title at the CIC-Tour Féminin des Pyrénées to an already outstanding campaign.
In the final general classification, Blasi finished 1:57 ahead of teammate Dominika Włodarczyk, while French rider Juliette Berthet (FDJ-SUEZ) completed the podium in third place.
The final tally for UAE Team ADQ was truly impressive. Paula Blasi claimed both the yellow jersey as overall winner and the polka-dot jersey in the mountains classification, Federica Venturelli secured victory in the points classification, and UAE Team ADQ also won the team classification.
It was the perfect reward for a magnificent collective effort, with the team consistently among the race’s protagonists throughout the week in the Pyrenees.
Speaking after securing the overall victory, Paula Blasi said: “Last year, the Tour des Pyrénées was the first race where I really came as a leader for the general classification, and it was a very tough experience. Today, I’m here as the winner. I think I’m the same person as I was a year ago, but with much more experience. I’ve learned how to move better within the peloton, stay calm when it matters, and make better decisions during the race.
This year I arrived with much more confidence in myself and with a very strong team around me.
Today we worked perfectly once again. We wanted to try to win the stage with Dominika, but when the breakaway went clear, we stayed focused on our main objective: controlling the race and securing the overall victory. We achieved that, and we’re very happy and satisfied with the result.”
(ph. @seb.le.h)
