"It makes me emotional to see how everyone lives the event along with us" - Tuesday's La Vuelta Femenina breakaway hero Mireia Benito

She probably envisioned her day to go differently, however Mireia Benito can't really complain about the outcome. After all, she became Tuesday's La Vuelta Femenina hero with an epic 100km solo breakaway. Her effort wasn't rewarded with a sweet victory, but the fond memories she made along the way will stick with the AG Insurance-Soudal rider for, at least, remainder of the race.

"It really has been like an ITT! It’s been spectacular to see so many people out on the roadside, cheering for us, crying my name out loud... I got goosebumps. This is our home race and it makes me emotional to see how everyone lives the event along with us," she is excited on the race website afterwards.

"When I found myself alone at the front, with no one bridging back from the bunch, I tried to just keep pushing without thinking too much nor looking back because you never know what may happen. I gave it all and I don’t have a single drop of energy left in my tank."

"I was eight kilometres shy of winning, but I’m happy I’m inching closer to victory. I have always struggled to win – I haven’t won an UCI race as of yet, indeed. Yet I don’t lose my hope. I believe this performance will help us step up, both me and my teammates."