Van Vleuten in a class of her own winning the second stage of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta

The Movistar rider attacked on the penultimate climb dropping all her rivals to take the overall lead with three stages remaining

Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) wins stage two of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) wins stage two of the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta
(Image credit: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty)

Annemiek van Vleuten put on a climbing masterclass at the Ceratizit Challenge by La Vuelta on Thursday, winning the second stage and taking the overall lead.

The Movistar rider led an attack on the day’s penultimate climb dragging out out four rivals. Over the next two kilometres she almost systematically dropped them, one by one. In the space of just over four kilometres Van Vleuten put had not only stamped her authority on the race, but humbled the peloton’s other best climbers.

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Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.