In the second stage of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Brodie Chapman of UAE Team ADQ distinguished herself with an extraordinary breakaway of nearly 100 kilometers out of the 134 km route from Benicàssim to Nules. Initially accompanied by Dutch rider Eva van Agt (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Chapman continued solo for about 65 kilometers. Although she was caught by the peloton just 3.8 km from the finish, her performance earned her the polka dot jersey as the leader of the QOM classification. Eleonora Gasparrini secured eighth place in the final sprint, won by Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx – Protime).
Chapman’s decisive attack occurred 103 km from the finish, in the company of Eva van Agt. After winning the first intermediate sprint in La Barona (km 34), at 68 km from the finish, on the climb of Alto Les Coronetes, Chapman remained alone at the front, securing the QOM and maintaining over a minute’s advantage over the chasers. She subsequently triumphed in the second QOM at Salt del Cavall. At 50 km from the finish, her lead had decreased to 25 seconds, but with a renewed effort, she extended it to 1:30. However, in the final flat section, the peloton closed the gap, catching Chapman 3.8 km from the finish.
After the race, Brodie Chapman stated: “It was a fantastic day for me. I pushed hard, trying to reach the finish line, but in the end, the peloton was too large. I’m still very happy. The team’s goal was to be aggressive, and we achieved that. I enjoyed myself, surrounded by beautiful landscapes.”
(ph. Getty Sport)
