Vuelta Femenina 2026: Kerbaol wins with late attack, Koch still leader
fotobureau Cor VosWith 2 kilometres to go, Cédrine Kerbaol slips clear of the reduced peloton. The French rider holds on all the way to the line and takes victory by 4 seconds over the chasing bunch, where Lotte Kopecky wins the sprint. Franziska Koch finishes in the peloton and retains the red jersey.
(Slideshow route/profile)
Stage 3 Results – 2026 Vuelta Femenina
1. Cédrine Kerbaol (fra)
2. Lotte Kopecky (bel) + O:04
3. Sarah Van Dam (can) s.t.
4. Liane Lippert (ger) s.t.
5. Paula Blasi (spa) s.t.
6. Mischa Bradewold (nld) s.t.
7. Loes Adegeest (nld) s.t.
8. Letizia Paternoster (ita) s.t.
9. Mavia García (spa) s.t.
10. Ashleigh Moolman-Patio (rsa) s.t.
GC after stage 3
1. Franziska Koch (ger)
2. Lotte Kopecky (bel)) + 0:02
3. Cédrine Kerbaol (fra) + 0:04
4. Sarah Van Dam (can) + 0:14
5. Evita Muzic (fra) s.t.
6. Loes Adegeest (nld) + 0:16
7. Liane Lippert (ger) + 0:18
8. Anna van der Breggen (nld) s.t.
9. Paula Blasi (spa) s.t.
10. Monica Trinca Colonel (ita) s.t.
Race report
Soon after the start, Felicity Wilson-Haffenden and Sterre Vervloet go on the attack, while Katia Ragusa, Justine Gégu and Marina Garau set off in pursuit, but fail to bridge across. The other two build a maximum lead of over 3 minutes.
With just over 40 kilometres to go, the gap is hovering around 2 minutes when Vervloet has to drop off the front, while Wilson-Haffenden is caught shortly after the bonus sprint, where Lotte Kopecky picks up 4 seconds and Franziska Koch takes 2.
With 12 kilometres to go, Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner slips away on the false flat extension of a stingy little climb. Her move is brought to an end after 4 kilometres.
On an uphill drag inside the final 7 kilometres, the peloton is ripped apart as Kasia Niewiadoma drives the pace on the front. Franziska Koch and Lotte Kopecky are dropped, but when the pace eases at the front they manage to make it back.
At the end of the cobbled road along the ocean, Cédrine Kerbaol attacks and solos to victory over the final 2 kilometres. Lotte Kopecky outsprints Sarah Van Dam 4 seconds later, while Franziska Koch finishes sixteenth to retain her lead in the general classification.
Another interesting read: route 3rd stage 2026 Vuelta Femenina.
Vuelta Femenina 2026 stage 3: video, routes, profiles
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