Overall winner Mischa Bredewold almost fainted after Basque Country thriller

Mischa Bredewold succeeded on Sunday in winning the general classification of the women’s Tour of the Basque Country. The Dutch SD Worx-Protime rider had to dig very deep to do it. In the closing part of the stage, she clawed her way back to the front group after being dropped on the climb.

Bredewold climbed the Mendizorrotz, near San Sebastián, at her own pace. On the final flat section she then bridged across to the front group, where Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Lauren Dickson (FDJ-Suez) were among her closest challengers. Bredewold, who also won the opening stage, ultimately took the overall title by 21 seconds.

"What it means to me to be allowed to wear the 'chapella' [Basque winner's headgear, ed.]? It makes me emotional. The support from the team was incredible. They believed that I could do it, and that is why I believed in it myself too. I am so happy with this victory," the Dutch rider said afterwards via her team’s channels.

"I have learned from my earlier attempts to win the overall here. Last year, I went over my limits too hard at the start of the final climb and blew myself up. So I knew that was my biggest pitfall. It became a matter of approaching the climb smartly, positioning myself well and finding my own pace," she explained.

"I knew the technical descent and the flat section had to become 'my' part. I could see the front group riding away and then I had one goal left: catch them. I went so deep, I have never experienced that in my life. I almost fainted after the finish. But we made it. The overall victory is in," Bredewold said.

"I am getting to know my strengths better and can therefore use them more effectively. I drew confidence from my results in the opening stages. I just had to follow my own feeling. If you blow yourself up, it is all over. My teammates also supported me perfectly in this Itzulia. That support gave me wings," the proud Bredewold concluded.

Team director Christian Kos was equally delighted. "Mischa rode a fine Itzulia Women. In the final stage she fought hard for her overall victory and fully deserved it. She kept to her own pace and could still see the front group in the distance. I had confidence in her descending skills. She threw herself downhill and then used her time-trial ability on the flat. We are proud of her performance."