Setmana Valenciana: Demi Vollering converts 19km solo into opening stage victory

European street champion Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) did it once more, launching a solo assault on the Alt de Barx to don the primary chief’s jersey of the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana in Gandia.

Vollering made her transfer with 18.7km to go, distancing Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and constructing her benefit to 53 seconds by the end – nearly double her lead of 29 seconds final 12 months.

Maëva Squiban (UAE Group ADQ) received the dash for second from a nine-rider chase group whereas Czech champion Viktória Chladňová (Visma-Lease a Bike) nudged in forward of Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Well being) for third.

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The stage almost did not go off as excessive winds made for treacherous situations. Nonetheless, after a vote and a debate with race organisers, Vollering championed the reason for going forward with the race.

„I am glad we might lastly race,“ Vollering mentioned. „The wind was sturdy and we have been a bit frightened concerning the gusts. However in the long run, I believe it wasn’t sturdy sufficient for echelons, or the route was not excellent.“

Vollering made her transfer on the similar level as final 12 months, however she denied that the race went the identical means.

„You possibly can by no means do it precisely the identical, as a result of additionally you want your teammates, in fact, and all of the dedication from them, to be doing their job on the precise second. They did their wonderful job with all the things they may do.

„I am actually proud of how they rode for me, and the way it turned out once more. You all the time make a plan and it by no means go precisely as deliberate, however everyone stepped up of their function, and did their half.“

The way it unfolded

The opening stage of the ProSeries Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana in Gandia stayed collectively for a lot of the stage, because the flat roads and excessive tempo discouraged breakaways.

It wasn’t till the hillier second half of the 121-kilometre stage that the motion started to get spicier. With 61km to go, there was a stinging assault from Anne Knijnenburg (Volkerwessels) forward of the primary mountain dash.

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Though the Tour of Chongming Island winner was shortly caught, she nonetheless claimed the utmost factors forward of Ema Comte (Cofidis) and Solène Muller (St Michel-Desire House-Auber93) on the Alt de Serra Grossa.

Imogen Wolff (Visma-Lease a Bike) received the intermediate dash in Barxeta simply earlier than the second mountain dash.

Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek) tried to spark a breakaway with 31km to go on the Alt de Barxeta, however solely served to cut back the scale of the peloton and was caught quickly after.

FDJ-SUEZ upped the tempo on the base of the ultimate climb, the Alt de Barx, the place Demi Vollering destroyed the peloton final 12 months and received by half a minute.

Predictably, the European Champion accelerated at nearly the very same place as in 2025, however this time she was not alone – she had Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) in tow.

Not getting any assist from her companion, Vollering accelerated once more with 18.7km to go and went solo to the end.

Niedermaier continued to chase after being joined by UAE Group ADQ’s Maeva Squiban. Behind them have been world champion Magdeleine Vallieres and Cédrine Kerbaol (EF-Oatly), Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Well being), Rosita Reijnhout and Czech champion Viktória Chladoňová (Visma-Lease a Bike), Lotte Claes (Fenix-Premier Tech) and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (Uno-X Mobility).

The second chase group caught Niedermaier and Squiban within the remaining two kilometres, however they have been a distant 43 seconds behind Vollering at that time.

They misplaced one other 10 seconds earlier than the road, with Squiban attacking within the finale to take second and Chladňová in third.

Outcomes

Outcomes powered by FirstCycling