Australian champion Mackenzie Coupland blasted to an impressive stage victory for Liv AlUla Jayco, delivering her the overall general classification title at the three-day Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina with teammate Talia Appleton taking third.
The 20-year-old out-sprinted her sole rival Lauren Dickson on the final stage after breaking away from the peloton in the closing kilometres, taking the stage win, plus the youth, points and general classifications in the process.
The 139km third and final day to Jaraiz de la Vera, was one to remember for the Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental outfit. A small breakaway group lead in to the final with the Australian team well represented with Coupland, Appleton and Sidney Swierenga all present.
Playing their cards right, the trio attacked allowing Coupland to get away to challenge for the win. Behind teammate Appleton sprinted into third place to move her onto the overall GC podium. Swierenga made it three riders in the top-5 overall classification to confirm a successful weekend of racing for the young and motivated squad.
With her first ever general classification overall victory now in the bag, the rider from Perth is enjoying a breakthrough season in her first months as a WorldTour professional. Racing in the vibrant green and gold championship colours, ‘Mack’ was a marked rider but rode with maturity to delivered on a day that mattered, thanks to the support of the Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental team.
Mackenzie Coupland
“It was a hard stage today with quite long climbs one after another. It was really nice being part of this team, Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Conti team, again and with such strong girls we were able to be aggressive in the race today. We had many cards to play and it definitely worked in our favour. It obviously feels amazing to win, winning is so hard and comes rare, but I am also very proud of not only my ride but every single one of the girls. Everyone played their role amazingly. The Australian jersey gives me a lot of self confidence and I definitely felt it helped me to keep pushing on.”
Przemyslaw Kasper – DS Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team
“The plan was of course to go for the stage win but also the GC with ‘Mack’ and Talia – they were our best cards for the final. I have to mention the team performance was great right from the start, we always had the biggest and most dangerous attacks covered. In the first move we had Erin and in the second another rider. Nadia did a great job with pacing in the bunch coming into the final when two riders were in the lead.
Then, in the final we went for an attack as we still had three really good climbers in that small group and I think it was quite clear that we were one of the strongest teams in this race.
We are super happy with the result as a team, everyone did solid and great work. Same for the staff who had some really long days and a lot of driving so it was really a team effort, lots of top teamwork.”
2026 Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina stage results:
1. Mackenzie Coupland (Liv AlUla Jayco) 3:46:4
2. Lauren Dickson ST
3. Talia Appleton (Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental team) +0:11
General Classification results:
1. Mackenzie Coupland (Liv AlUla Jayco) 7:28:32
2. Lauren Dickson +0:52
3. Talia Appleton (Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental team) ST
Photo: Sprint Cycling
