DEMI VOLLERING tried her best up the iconic Lagos de Covadonga climb to the mist-shrouded finish of the seventh and final stage of the Vuelta Femenina, the women’s tour of Spain, today, but was unable to claw back enough time to beat Annemiek van Vleuten in the overall race.

Van Vleuten managed to establish a lead in Saturday’s penultimate stage in controversial style, capitalising on a nature break taken by some riders, including then race leader Vollering. 

It’s a move that is generally frowned on among the peloton unless it is executed as part of a prepared plan: but Van Vleuten argued that it was precisely that, an attack at a point in the race where her team could take advantage of crosswinds.

And so the 40-year-old, who has declared this to be her last year of racing, set out on final stage the women’s Vuelta in Asturia with a 71-second advantage over her fellow Dutch rival.

And though Vollering put everything into that final climb, storming ahead with young Italian rider Gaia Realini, Van Vleuten clung on doggedly to claim third spot on the stage — and an overall victory in the race of just nine seconds.

Realini emerged from the mists to cross the line 11 seconds behind Vollering to take second on the stage and third place overall, having grown into the race, taking her first ever grand tour stage win on Saturday in a photo finish with Van Vleuten in a two-up sprint to the line ahead of the field.

The 21-year-old won the queen of the mountains competition, while another Dutch great, Marianne Vos, won the points jersey and the most combative rider award.