If I had a dollar for every time Anna van der Breggen lost the general classification in the final stage of a major week-long tour in 2026, I would have two dollars. Which isn't a lot. But it's wild that it's happened twice.
On May 8th, Van der Breggen rode to her first WorldTour victory of the year at stage 6 of La Vuelta Femenina. The ride granted the former world champion the red leader's jersey, but one day later, she would lose it on the slopes of L'Angliru to Paula Blasi. Van der Breggen rode a steady pace to hold onto second overall, but it was a blow to the SD Worx-Protime rider.
When Van der Breggen took her second win of the year in the stage 4 time trial at the Giro d'Italia, she looked to be head and shoulders above the rest. It was the best performance since she returned to the peloton last season, after retiring at the end of 2021.
At the end of the fourth stage, Van der Breggen pulled on the pink jersey, and despite Demi Vollering trying to pull it off her for four days, the Dutchwoman held firm.
Until stage 9.
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