Thalita de Jong sprinted to fifth place on the final day of Itzulia Women to also secure fifth place on the final general classification at the end of the 112.9 km stage in the Basque Country.
The 31-year-old showed great consistency in the WorldTour stage race, finishing 8th, 12th and 5th in the three stages to show she’s back in form after injury in March. The results also helped her place fifth in the points standings.
“I’m really happy with the result,” she said after. “I was gambling a bit in the final when we were catching riders back and not closing the gaps, but I can be proud of this fifth place, so I’m happy for myself and the team.”
De Jong covered the moves on the crucial Mendizorrotz climb in the final stage to Donostia-San Sebastian, holding her own in a group that included leader Mischa Bredewold chasing eventual stage and overall winner Demi Vollering. The group was whittled down to eight on the descent, with two going clear on the run-in, before De Jong placed fifth on the day.
“My tactic was to be focused on staying on the front for the climbs so I had a good overview,” she explained. “I took the final climb at my own pace, and it was steep, so I had to push myself. I tried to hang on, and then on the downhill, I knew Bredewold would be crazy, so I stayed with her because she needed to close the gap.”
The team of de Jong, Ruth Edwards, Carlotta Cipressi, Giada Borghesi, Katia Ragusa and Yurani Blanco showed themselves throughout the three days. Ragusa was notably in the breakaway on the opening stage, where the team also had a strong showing in the lead-out for de Jong.
“The team was great, especially the first day,” de Jong says. “The staff, like always, was great, so I had a nice three days of racing with more coming up.”
De Jong and the team next head to the one-day Durango Durango Emakumeen Saria before her next stage-race outings at Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina and Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées.
“I have some nice memories from Durango [where she finished third in 2024], so we will see how it will go,” she says. “I’m growing every day, so I’m looking forward to Durango and then a small period of rest before Catalunya and Pyrénées.”
Itzulia Women stage 3 results
1 VOLLERING Demi – FDJ – SUEZ 2:55:35
2 VAN DAM Sarah – CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team 0:55
3 GHEKIERE Justine – AG Insurance – Soudal Team ”
4 MUZIC Évita – FDJ – SUEZ 0:58
5 DE JONG Thalita – Human Powered Health ”
6 BREDEWOLD Mischa – Team SD Worx – Protime ”
7 SPRATT Amanda – Lidl – Trek ”
8 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ”
9 GARCÍA Mavi – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
10 MIERMONT Dilyxine – CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team 1:17
Itzulia Women final General Classification
1 VOLLERING Demi – FDJ – SUEZ 9:55:44
2 BREDEWOLD Mischa – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:48
3 VAN DAM Sarah – CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team 1:01
4 GHEKIERE Justine – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:03
5 DE JONG Thalita – Human Powered Health 1:10
6 SPRATT Amanda – Lidl – Trek ”
7 GARCÍA Mavi – Liv AlUla Jayco ”
8 NIEDERMAIER Antonia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ”
9 MUZIC Évita – FDJ – SUEZ ”
10 MIERMONT Dilyxine – CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team 1:27
Photos: GettySport
