“If you dream an ideal plan, it would be like this” - Mischa Bredewold and Lotte Kopecky execute perfect SD Worx one-two at La Vuelta

SD Worx - Protime could hardly have scripted Stage 5 of La Vuelta Femenina 2026 any better. Mischa Bredewold sprinted to victory in Astorga ahead of teammate and race leader Lotte Kopecky after the pair combined for a perfectly executed uphill finish that protected the red jersey while still delivering the stage win.

“If you dream an ideal plan it would be to do it like this,” Bredewold said afterwards following the Dutch rider’s first victory of the season.

The unusual finale initially appeared set to deliver Kopecky a second consecutive stage victory. Instead, Bredewold’s acceleration proved so strong that the Belgian simply stayed on her teammate’s wheel as SD Worx completed a dominant one-two finish on the uphill drag to the line.

Kopecky later revealed that once Bredewold opened the sprint, her focus immediately shifted from trying to come around her teammate to making sure nobody else spoiled the result for SD Worx. “I knew Mischa was going to sprint,” Kopecky explained. “I was just hoping that nobody came from behind to overtake her so she could claim the victory.”

The result capped a near-perfect day for the team, who had controlled the race throughout the afternoon while carefully defending Kopecky’s overall lead before the decisive mountain stages later this week. “It was a really nice day,” Kopecky said. “Our team took control from the beginning to keep the break within sight.”

The stage itself gradually developed into the controlled uphill sprint scenario SD Worx had targeted before the start. Even when rain arrived late in the finale and tension rose sharply in the peloton, the team remained firmly in command near the front. “As we approached the final kilometres, it started raining and the race became more hectic,” Kopecky continued. “We had to be really careful. Then, it was a really nice finish. We knew that this finish suited us very well, and it would have been stupid not to set it up for us.”

Bredewold also praised the effort of her teammates after a long day chasing the early breakaway into a persistent headwind. “‘Chapeau’ to my teammates,” she said. “It was headwind all day long, so it was really hard for them to pull in the peloton. They are so strong. We knew that it was going to be like this today, so hats off to the girls.”

Part of what made the finish so striking was the tactical flexibility SD Worx carried into the finale. Bredewold explained that the original plan always allowed for both riders to fight for the stage depending on how the uphill sprint developed, particularly with the team also needing to protect Kopecky’s red jersey.

“We had of course a luxury position today with the red jersey and I’m just so grateful to the team that they have given me freedom to sprint,” Bredewold said. “Of course, we came here with Lotte for the sprints, so you need to puzzle a bit with the stages. Especially today, as you don’t want to throw the red jersey away - that would be really stupid.”

The Dutch rider then described how the finale unfolded almost exactly as the team had imagined beforehand. “Actually, if you dream an ideal plan it would be to do it like this, that I get the freedom to sprint having Lotte on my wheel and she would come over if she had to,” she explained. “We said it before: it was a dream, dream scenario. If I had to, I would do the leadout, but it was not necessary!”

Despite the dominant display, both riders acknowledged that the race is likely to change dramatically once La Vuelta reaches the mountains. Kopecky admitted she does not expect to keep the red jersey on the brutal summit finish at Les Praeres. “Racing in the red jersey has been very nice,” she said, “but I’m afraid I will lose it tomorrow in Les Praeres.”

The team’s focus is already beginning to shift towards supporting Anna van der Breggen in the overall classification battle after the former world champion was caught up in a late crash during the stage.

“It was scary because it was a really hectic final,” Bredewold said. “Actually, we were on large roads all day and then the last five kilometres were pretty crazy. I really hope that Anna is ok, and I hope the other girls involved in the crash are ok too. We’re ready to support Anna in the final days. She is in super good condition.”

For one more day at least, however, SD Worx leave the flatter stages with exactly what they wanted: another stage victory and Kopecky still in red before the real GC battle begins.