The penultimate stage of the race saw riders tackle a 115-kilometre route from Medina de Pomar to Ojo Guareña.

A series of breakaway moves were attempted throughout the stage, with Uttrup Ludwig and Fisher-Black involved in a four-rider attack with 22 kilometres of racing remaining.

The quartet reached the top of the Alto de Las Hoyas climb clear of the peloton, with Fisher-Black first to crest the summit to take the lead in the mountains classification.

The breakaway was brought back into the peloton on the descent, with teams remaining watchful to possible counterattacks.

Switzerland’s Elise Chabbey, the overall race leader, sought to increase her advantage with an attack late in the stage.

She was joined by Canada’s Karol-Ann Canuel, but the duo were unable to hold off a reduced main group on the final climb of Ojo Guarena to the finish.

Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma launched the sprint to the line with the Canyon-SRAM Racing rider ultimately unable to hold off the challenge of Uttrup Ludwig.

Uttrup Ludwig, who rides for Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope, crossed the line in a winning time of three hours and 28 seconds.

Niewiadoma held on for second on the same time as the winner, with Dutch star Anna van der Breggen and Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini finishing third and fourth respectively.

Fisher-Black placed fifth at three seconds down.

The result saw Fisher-Black move into the overall race lead on countback, due to being level on time with Australia’s Grace Brown.

Niewiadoma, Longo Borghini and van der Breggen will head into the final stage just two seconds off the race lead.

Tomorrow’s stage will see riders complete a 121km course from Quintanar de la Sierra to Lagunas de Neila.