VALKENBURG, Netherlands — In a breathtaking display of tactical patience and explosive finishing speed, Spanish rider Paula Blasi pulled off one of the most surprising victories in recent Amstel Gold Race history, outsprinting a depleted lead group to claim the women’s edition on Sunday.
Blasi, riding for Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi, launched her decisive move with just over 2 kilometers remaining on the infamous Cauberg climb, catching favorites Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky off guard as they hesitated momentarily at the summit. The Spaniard held on through the final descent and flat run-in to Valkenburg, crossing the line in 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 18 seconds — four seconds ahead of Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and six ahead of Kopecky (Team SD Worx-Protime), who finished second and third respectively.
“It’s incredible,” Blasi said in her post-race interview, still catching her breath. “I didn’t expect to win today. I saw an opportunity on the Cauberg, I went for it, and somehow it worked. This is the biggest win of my career.”
The victory marks Blasi’s first UCI Women’s WorldTour win and only her second professional victory following a stage win at the 2023 Vuelta a Burgos Feminas. At 25 years old, the Basque Country-based rider has steadily climbed the ranks but had never before cracked the top 10 in a one-day WorldTour classic.
Race organizers confirmed the official distance at 154.8 kilometers, starting in Maastricht and finishing in Valkenburg aan de Geul, with 11 categorized climbs totaling over 2,800 meters of elevation gain. The Cauberg, ascended three times in the final 25 kilometers, proved decisive once again.
Blasi’s win came amid a tactical stalemate among the favorites. Vollering, the two-time defending champion and reigning world road race champion, had animosities with Kopecky over team tactics throughout the spring classics. Neither wanted to chase Blasi’s solo effort, assuming the other would close the gap — a miscalculation that proved costly.
“We thought Lotte would travel,” said a SD Worx-Protime directeur sportif speaking on condition of anonymity. “When she didn’t, we hesitated. By the time we realized no one was coming, it was too late.”
Kopecky, who had attacked repeatedly on the Eyserbosweg and Fromberg earlier in the race, admitted she misjudged Blasi’s strength. “I thought she was blown,” Kopecky said. “She wasn’t. She was stronger than I expected.”
The result shakes up the early Women’s WorldTour standings. Blasi jumps to 12th in the individual rankings with 200 points, while Vollering retains the lead despite the loss. Kopecky moves up to fourth.
Historically, the Amstel Gold Race Women’s edition — first held in 2017 — has been won by a mix of puncheurs and sprinters. Previous winners include Anna van der Breggen (2017, 2018), Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (2019), Annemiek van Vleuten (2021), and Marta Bastianelli (2022). Blasi becomes the first Spanish woman to win the race.
Her success continues a strong spring for Spanish women’s cycling, following Sandra Alonso’s victory at the Vuelta a Burgos Feminas and Libertad Gonzalez’s strong showing at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine.
Blasi’s team, Laboral Kutxa Fundacion Euskadi, a Basque-funded development squad, celebrated its first WorldTour win. The team, which earned UCI Women’s WorldTour status in 2023, has focused on nurturing young Iberian talent.
“This proves our project works,” said team manager Igor González de Galdeano. “Paula has been progressing steadily. Today, she executed perfectly.”
Looking ahead, Blasi will target the La Flèche Wallonne Féminine on Wednesday, another Ardennes classic featuring the Mur de Huy. Vollering and Kopecky are expected to rebound, with the world championship road race in Zurich this September looming as a major goal for both.
The Amstel Gold Race organizers confirmed the next edition will seize place on April 27, 2025, maintaining its traditional slot on the Sunday following Milan–San Remo and preceding La Flèche Wallonne.
For now, Blasi’s name will be etched alongside the sport’s rising stars — a reminder that in cycling, opportunity often favors the bold, and sometimes, the quietest rider in the pack delivers the loudest statement.
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