Demi Vollering (SD Works-Protime), who took the red jersey on stage 5 of La Vuelta Femenina, extended his lead on stage 6 but remained cautious heading into this weekend's final two stages.

Volering only lost to Evita Mujic (FDJ-SUEZ) on the climb to the top of La Laguna Negra, but pulled away from the other GC contenders to take six bonus seconds and a 19-second lead over Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) in second place overall.

Volering is now 56 seconds ahead of the Italian champion with one flat stage and one mountain stage to go.

"I felt really good today. The climb to the finish was a bit tough with the headwind. A fall or an accident and everything is gone. The team and I have to stay focused," said Voerling.

"A strong breakaway group can be difficult with a headwind on big roads like today. My teammates put in a great performance and kept me in control of the race all day. If we can keep this focus, I am confident that we can bring home the red jersey."

Elsewhere in the GC contenders, Lejeanne Marx (Visma Ries-a-Bike) finished fourth on the stage, but held on to third place overall, one place better than her final position at the 2023 Vuelta Femenina. She is now 1:14 behind Vollering and 24 seconds ahead of fourth-place Juliette LaBouce.

"My legs felt good today. I fought with Elisa and Yara (Castellaine) for third place, and at the end I lost a little bit to Elisa... I'm happy because I was able to secure a little bit of third place in GC," Markus said.

Jara Castellaine (Phoenix-Desseuninck), who was already in second place on stage 5, tried to attack on the finish climb and eventually took third place on stage 6, two seconds ahead of Marx.

However, a time loss on stage 4 meant that Castelline was still some way off the GC podium, but she moved up to ninth overall, 3:25 behind Voerling.

"I think I can be satisfied with today's stage. I think I can be happy with today's stage. I lost time in Echelon a few days ago. I'm not good at echelon. But on the other hand, I lost two minutes when I could have lost five or eight," Castellane said, according to Wielerfritz.

"We have another hard stage on Sunday. I want to do my best there and finish.

Stage 7 from San Esteban de Gormaz to Sigüença is mostly flat. The final eighth stage starts in the Spanish capital of Madrid, crosses the Puerto de la Morquera, also a category 1 climb, and finishes at the ski resort of Valdeschi.