"I suffered a lot today" - Blanka Kata Vas battles through back pain to keep hold of Red Jersey at La Vuelta Femenina

After using the bonus seconds available on stage 2 to launch herself into the overall race lead of the La Vuelta Femenina 2024, Blanka Kata Vas ensured the Red Jersey will stay on her shoulders a little longer by successfully navigating stage 3 without incident.

That wasn't to say it was an easy day for the Team SD Worx - Protime rider however, as she struggled with back pain throughout. "It was a very hard day, from the start. I was already tired after 30 kilometres, and struggling with back pain. I suffered a lot today," the Hungarian National Champion admitted in her post-stage interview.

"The lone breakaway rider had a very big gap, so we pulled a bit at the front to bring her back and stopped working when she was close enough in order to let other teams interested on a mass sprint do the chasing," Vas's recap continues. "I kept the Red jersey because of the bonus seconds I took in the intermediate sprint, but I did not calculate it. I was near the front when it came and I just tried to claim those bonus seconds. As for the finish, I didn’t sprint because I was very tired."

In the sprint, it was Team Visma | Lease a Bike's Marianne Vos who powered to victory ahead of Charlotte Kool. With another bunch sprint expected on stage 4, Vas could potentially keep hold of the overall lead for at least another day.