Petra Stiasny entered a new page in the history books of cycling, becoming the first female athlete to win atop the legendary L’Angliru climb, taking victory on the queen stage of the Vuelta España Femenina.
Climbing as part of an elite group, the 26-year-old timed her effort to perfection aboard the Factor O2 VAM climbing bike, passing eventual GC winner Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) with just over two kilometers to race.
Stiasny then pressed her advantage home, winning by 23-seconds at the end of the 132.9 km stage 7 from La Pola Llaviana/Pola de Laviana to L’Angliru.
“I’m lost for words, for me, it’s incredible,” a breathless Stiasny said at the finish of her first WorldTour victory. “I was looking forward to this stage for a really long time. When they announced that the Angliru would be part of the Vuelta, for me, there was only one thing on my mind. Every day, for me, it was a dream.”
The result marks a pivotal moment in the program’s 14-season history as it claims its first Grand Tour stage victory.
Barbara Malcotti then added to the history books, climbing to ninth on the stage to rise eight places on the general classification and score ninth overall, adding to the 26-year-old’s ever-growing stage race palmares.
The legendary L’Angliru is one of cycling’s most fearsome mountains. 12.1 km at 10.3%, the steep gradients have a storied history.
Set up by her teammates at the base of the climb, Stiasny joined the front group, making much of the racing as they broke clear. With a flurry of attacks around her, the Swiss raced at her own pace with Blasi and Marion Bunel (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) creating a small gap.
With Team Director Clark Sheehan and Head of Race Magnus Bäckstedt in the car behind, Stiasny then found her second wind on the steepest gradients, chasing back and then passing Blasi on a steep hairpin with just over 2km to go.
“It was just a dream to win the stage. I was looking forward so much to this day,” she said. “So many things can happen during the week, and today, this morning, it was finally the day I was looking forward to for so long. I told my sports director at the beginning of the week, ‘You know, when I arrive at the Angliru, I feel free. I feel that I am in my happy place.’”
For Human Powered Health, this victory was more than just a result. It was the culmination of years of persistence, trust, and ambition, a defining moment for a program that has spent the past seasons building toward days exactly like this.
And perhaps that is what made the performance so powerful. On a mountain known for breaking riders, Stiasny discovered joy. In the pain of L’Angliru, she found her happy place.
As the clouds closed over the summit and the final gaps opened behind her, one thing became clear: this was not simply a stage victory, it was a breakthrough. For Petra Stiasny, for the team, and for the future still waiting to be written.
Vuelta España Femenina stage 7 results
1 STIASNY Petra – Human Powered Health 4:09:40
2 BLASI Paula – UAE Team ADQ 0:23
3 BERTHET Juliette – FDJ United – SUEZ 0:43
4 BUNEL Marion – Team Visma | Lease a Bike ”
5 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:59
6 CAVALLAR Valentina – Team SD Worx – Protime 1:10
7 ŽIGART Urška – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 1:30
8 OSTOLAZA Usoa – Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi 1:41
9 MALCOTTI Barbara – Human Powered Health 1:56
10 VINKE Nienke – Team SD Worx – Protime 2:16
Vuelta España Femenina General Classification results
1 BLASI Paula – UAE Team ADQ 22:17:03
2 VAN DER BREGGEN Anna – Team SD Worx – Protime 0:24
3 BUNEL Marion – Team Visma | Lease a Bike 0:49
4 OSTOLAZA Usoa – Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi 2:31
5 BERTHET Juliette – FDJ United – SUEZ 2:36
6 ŽIGART Urška – AG Insurance – Soudal Team 2:43
7 TRINCA COLONEL Monica – Liv AlUla Jayco 2:51
8 NIEWIADOMA Kasia – CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto 3:06
9 MALCOTTI Barbara – Human Powered Health 3:50
10 MUZIC Évita – FDJ United – SUEZ 3:55
Stage gallery
Photos: GettySport
