Euskal Emakumeen Bira: Niewiadoma wins overall title

Image 1 of 13

Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) edged out Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Rabo-Liv) to take the finale stage 4 win in Markina on Sunday. American road champion Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) finished in third place, one second behind the pair.

Niewiadoma, who moved into the race lead after stage 1, won the overall title at the Euskal Emakumeen Bira, finishing the five-stage race by just one second ahead of Ashleigh Moolman (Bigla Pro Cycling Team) and two seconds ahead of Johansson. "For me it's a dream come true," Niewiadoma said in a team press release.

For Johansson, it was her second stage win of the race and she won the overall point classification. “It’s really nice after a hard spring to come here for six days of racing and come home with three victories,” Johansson said of both the Euskal Emakumeen Bira and the Durango one-day race held in Spain.

“I gave it a crack today, I knew I needed to make a gap to be able to take the general classification but Niewiadoma has been glued to my wheel all week. But to have the team riding so strong is really nice too and it’s always special for me to race here as well.”

The final stage 4 was an 86.8km race that started and finished in Markina. The race was together heading into the first of two decisive ascents, but broke apart shortly after on the descent with a breakaway gaining a small gap.

The field came back together at the start of the second climb with 10km to go, a lead group formed with Johansson, Niewiadoma, Guarnier, Moolman and Anna van der Breggen (Rabo-Liv). Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) was also in the initial group but didn't make it over the crest of the climb with the leaders.

Johansson and Niewiadoma opened a small gap on their breakaway companions in the closing metres of the race, with Johansson taking the stage win. She was not able to shed Niewiadoma from her wheel, however, and the Polish rider secured the overall title.

Full Results