Swierenga<\/a> finished safely in the bunch, keeping her third overall. Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) finished first in GC, followed by C\u00e9lia Gery (FDJ United \u2013 SUEZ).<\/p>\nStage 3 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina<\/h2>\n
The 112-km stage from Matar\u00f3 featured an early climb of the Coll de Parpers before flattening out for what was expected to be a showdown between the race\u2019s fastest finishers.<\/p>\n
Four riders animated the race from the opening kilometers: Paula Ostiz, Oda Aune Gissinger, Natalie Revelo and Isabella Bertold.<\/p>\n
The quartet built a lead of around 90 seconds, but the sprinters\u2019 teams never allowed the gap to grow too large and steadily brought them back.<\/p>\n
The finale<\/h2>\n
Ostiz and Gissinger were the final survivors from the break, but they were reeled in with four kilometres remaining, ensuring the stage would be decided in a bunch sprint.<\/p>\n
Cofidis led into the final kilometre for Valentine Fortin, but Visma \u2013 Lease a Bike executed a perfectly timed lead-out. Vos burst clear in the closing metres to take the win. Her teammate Nienke Veenhoven completed a one-two finish for the Dutch squad. Nicole Steigenga rounded out the podium in third.<\/p>\n
Swierenga\u2019s 2026 season<\/h2>\n
\u201cIt was a really great day and all my teammates were super helpful and I couldn\u2019t have done it without them,\u201d Swierenga said. \u201cI am so grateful to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her Canadian teammate, Anabelle Thomas, who worked hard for her, finished 57th overall. Other Canucks racing in Catalonia included Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), who had a terrific Stage 1, finishing fifth.<\/p>\n
Swierenga has been on fire in her first year as an elite. She climbed up the leaderboards after a terrific ride on Stage 2. Saturday was a very tough and hilly stage\u2014her speciality\u2014from Sant Vicen\u00e7 de Castellet to La Molina for a total of 130 km.<\/p>\n
Although she hasn\u2019t won her first race as an elite, she\u2019s come pretty darn close. In May, she finished second at the Grand Prix du Morbihan Femmes. She also finished seventh overall at the Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina earlier this year.<\/p>\n