There have been several GC skirmishes through the first half of La Vuelta Femenina but the summit finish on stage 5 was the first real test of the climbing legs and at the Rapatan Fort in the Pyrenean town of Jaca the flames of hope for Demi Vollering's rivals got a serious dousing.
There may still be an ember burning for Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), who is the closest rival to the SD Worx-Protime rider on the overall, at 31 seconds, but it looks like there is every chance that the red jersey of the race leader could have found its home for 2024. Now that Vollering has broken her victory drought with her first top step of the season, it may well continue on into a roll.
