With the Spring Classics in the rear view mirror the attention is now turning to the stage races, with the spotlight first shifting to La Vuelta Femenina as it delivers its toughest course ever as it winds its way from Marin to a finale atop the Alto de l'Angliru.
The winner of the past two editions, Demi Vollering, will not be on the start line but that doesn't mean there will be any shortage of fierce rivals on the road from May 3 to May 9, some are building form toward the Tour de France Femmes but for others it will be the goal itself.
We have some hints of form from the early season WorldTour level multi-day races, such as the Tour Down Under and the UAE Tour, though given this if the first top-tier women's stage race of this European seasons there is plenty of room for the unexpected.
Of course, it's also about more than the individual contenders as while some teams are lining up with one clear leader, others have a number that could reach for the top spots leaving them with alternate plans if things go wrong or options if they don't.
The final start lists aren't out yet – so there may be some changes – but from the latest indications of who will be on the line, Cyclingnews has gone through the options to pull together a list of some of the key riders who could be vying for the top overall spots as they battle their way up the final brutal climb of the Alto de L'Angliru.
Juliette Berthet and Évita Muzic (FDJ United-SUEZ)
Just because Demi Vollering is turning her attention to the Giro d'Italia this year, that doesn't mean FDJ United-SUEZ isn't still going to be a formidable force in Spain. Instead the fortunes of the team will be resting on the shoulders of Juliette Berthet (née Labous) and Évita Muzic. Both finished inside the top 10 in 2025 even though they were working for race winner Vollering, which shows they have more than earned their opportunity. Additionally the French squad has clearly show in recent months that they are not lost without their key leader, carving out a path to victory with a number of riders other than Vollering.
Berthet has finished inside the top five overall in Spain for the past two years and top 10 through the last four, delivering a consistency that can leave no doubt that she has what it takes to perform at the event. On top of that her strong showing at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, with ninth behind her winning team leader Vollering, is an indication of strong building form.
That strength also should be amplified with Muzic by her side. The 26-year-old is a consistent performer overall at the event, but also a proven powerhouse on the climbs, and this is an edition riders who enjoy the longer and tougher ascents will be looking forward to. One of Muzic's biggest career wins so far, in fact, came atop the La Laguna Negra, when Vollering was a rival rather than a teammate and she managed to pip her at the top of the tough stage 6 climb at the 2024 La Vuelta Femenina. It shows that she can deliver on a climb when the opportunity arrives, and with this year's tough route she just may be in a position to find that chance again.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Femke de Vries (Visma-Lease a Bike)
As the winner of the 2025 Tour de France Femmes there is no doubt that Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will draw lots of attention as a key rider to watch, even though it was far from a smooth run at the event last year which ended with a DNS on stage 5. Then, however, the French rider with an astounding list of achievements across disciplines was still in the early stages of her return to road racing. A year on, there is reason to expect it could be a different story. Ferrand-Prévot opened her season with Strade Bianche in March but really built up in April, delivering podium performances at the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, so clearly there is some early season form on display. However, it's unclear at this point whether the Vuelta is a key target or a tool for building for the rider who has a knack of rising for key targets, but also isn't afraid to throw her efforts behind her teammates at others.
Femke de Vries, often a key support for Ferrand-Prévot, delivered some solid results in stage races last season though the beginning of this year really brought to the fore just how successful she could be when targeting an event and having the team backing thrown behind her. The Dutch rider's effort on the final stage of the UAE Tour to the top of Jebel Hafeet put her on the podium of both the stage and overall. A pair of stages with summit finishes to conclude course of this year's Vuelta could play to her advantage if De Vries ends up switching her support role for a shot at being supported once again at the Vuelta.
Monica Trinca Colonel (Liv AlUla Jayco)
In previous years Mavi García might have been a rider that was an obvious pick for a Liv AlUla Jayco contender at her home Grand Tour, but her departure to UAE Team ADQ certainly hasn't left the team without a strong option. In fact, with Italian rider Monica Trinca Colonel they are stepping into the race with plenty of reason to rate their chances of delivering a strong result. Trinca Colonel last year finished seventh overall last year so not surprisingly the squad has decided to throw its support behind her in 2026, with the overall being the key goal for the team. Add to last year's result her performance at the this year's UAE Tour, where she stepped up to second place overall, and there is reason to think that a high spot on the general classification is within reach.
Along with a well-rounded solid support across the varied terrain, New Zealander Ella Wyllie should be a valuable support asset in the crucial climbing stages.
Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime)
Even in the early stages of her return to road racing in 2025, Anna van der Breggen was firing at the Vuelta Femenina, heading straight to the podium with third overall. There is no doubt that she has the experience and know how to excel through a stage race and there are also signs of the required form as well. Last year Van der Breggen was on the back foot because of illness during the Ardennes and a cold, too, has proven a dampener this year but with a far less dramatic impact. In fact she got through the trio of races without once falling outside the top ten and even as the cold hit at Liège-Bastogne-Liège she was just off the podium in fourth. That building form through the events left her rueing the fact that it was over after Sunday's finale but the good news is she now take advantage of that form in Spain.
Also, the team will have Lotte Kopecky on board and while the rider may not have the same focus on Grand Tour ambitions that she once did, having her as a strong wildcard option certainly won't hurt.
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto)
For Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney the Vuelta Femenina has always been a race where she has performed well, finishing in eleventh overall at worst and sixth at best across the five times she has completed the event in its various guises. This year, however, it's been a particularly strong path to this point of the season from fifth overall at the UAE Tour to the second places at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Strade Bianche to a second, fourth and third place across the Ardennes trio. They are results that are both an indicator of strong form but also a potential spur to for something more as despite consistently been near the front of the race, the rider from Poland is still waiting on that first victory celebration of the season.
“My goal for La Vuelta is to finish on the podium," says Niewiadoma. "It’s also not a secret that I’ve been chasing victories for my whole career, so I definitely want to find the opportunity to raise the hands on one of the stages. I also want to stay smart, attentive and race well with the team, to get the best out of it.”
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