Cédrine Kerbaol wins La Vuelta stage 3

Cédrine Kerbaol (Movistar Team) secured an impressive solo victory on Stage 3 of La Vuelta Femenina, attacking from the breakaway on the final climb to win by 29 seconds over Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) and Ricarda Bauernfeind (Canyon-SRAM). The 130.5km stage from Lucena to La Roda saw an early break establish, with Kerbaol making her decisive move in the closing kilometres. Franziska Koch (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) successfully defended her overall leader's jersey, maintaining a 2-second advantage heading into Stage 4.

This victory marks a significant milestone for the 23-year-old French talent, who has been steadily building her palmarès since turning professional. After a strong 2023 season, including a top-10 at the World Championships ITT and a stage win at the Tour de Normandie Féminin, Kerbaol's performance at a Grand Tour underscores her growing stature. Her ability to execute a solo attack from a break, particularly against a chasing peloton featuring GC contenders, demonstrates both tactical acumen and formidable power, hinting at her potential beyond time trials.

Kerbaol's perfectly timed move not only delivered a career-defining win but also served as a timely reminder that even in Grand Tours, the early breaks can still catch the favourites napping.