The 23-year-old rider, originally from Esplugues de Llobregat, demonstrated great strength and strategy to win the Dutch race solo, covering 158.1 kilometers between Maastricht and Valkenburg. This victory opens the Ardennes classics trilogy and solidifies her as one of the great promises of women's cycling, having previously been European champion and third in the World in the U23 category.
Blasi's decisive attack came on the Cauberg, more than 20 kilometers from the finish line. With unwavering determination, she maintained her pace and challenged her pursuers, overcoming even a course error and the rain. She crossed the finish line with a time of four hours, two minutes, and fourteen seconds.
The Catalan cyclist finished 27 seconds ahead of two renowned figures in international cycling: Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma and the Netherlands' Demi Vollering, who completed the podium. This feat highlights her ability as a time trialist and her skill in managing pressure during key moments of the race.
“"I don't know what to think. I wasn't even planning to race today. I have to process what happened because I can't believe it. They told me to attack, I attacked, and I'm living a dream."
The race began with an initial breakaway featuring Belgium's Nijssen, the Netherlands' Steigenga, and the USA's Franz, which was neutralized on the first pass through the finish line. The favorites began to make their moves 35 kilometers from the end, but it was Blasi who, 26 kilometers from the finish, launched her definitive attack, first with the Netherlands' Nienke Vinke and then solo, securing a memorable victory.
