Finnish time trial champion Lotta Lepisto grabbed her first victory of the season during Wednesday’s opening prologue in Euskal Emakumeen XXIX Bira. The 26 year old was the third rider off the start ramp and immediately claimed the hotseat with a time of 4 minutes and 12 seconds.

After a 2 hour wait, she was awarded the victory and the first race leaders jersey of the tour. To add to an incredible team performance on the day, Carmen Small rounded out the podium in third while Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio was fifth and Clara Koppenburg tenth. Joelle Numainville stayed close to the top ten in fourteenth.

“I was hoping for a top ten result today,” a modest Lepistö said. “When I crossed the line I knew I did a good time so the last two hours of waiting was just torture. The last few weeks I was focused on this prologue. My coach and I went through how I should ride it. We prepared really well for it. I’ve been overthinking the prologues and been nervous so today I worked on really being relaxed but focused.”

Lepistö mentioned the team partners saying everything felt like a team performance. “Everything just felt fast. It was a whole package. From the skin suit and shoe covers to the new Bambino Pro helmet from Kask and the bike, it was all just really fast.”

Predictably, Team Manager, Thomas Campana was happy with the performance. “Last year the season really got going for us in Bira. That was in May when the team really got going and started performing. Now the race is a month earlier and we are going well so I think Bira is a good place for us,” he said.

“This time trial was perfect for Lotta. It was windy, there was a long descent and a very steep uphill. For her, those conditions are perfect when she has good legs. We were thinking of a top 5 result but not necessarily the victory. Third place for Carmen after a hard weekend last weekend when she was sick is incredible. Ashleigh did a super ride and Clara Koppenburg was tenth, it is an impressive team performance.”

The race continues with stage 1 tomorrow around Eskoriatza. Rolling hills will be contested during the first half of the race with category 3 and 2 climb’s awaiting the peloton later on.