Chladoňová and Nooijen secure youth and mountain jersey in final stage Setmana Ciclista Valenciana

# Chladoňová and Nooijen Shine in Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Securing Youth and Mountain Jerseys

In a thrilling conclusion to the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, Viktória Chladoňová and teammate Lieke Nooijen showcased their exceptional talents by clinching the youth and mountain jerseys. The final stage, spanning 117 kilometers from Sagunto to Valencia, featured an early segment of rolling roads before introducing the sole categorized climb of the day — the Alt de l’Oronet.

Chladoňová, who entered the final stage as the leader of the youth classification due to her third place in the general standings, battled fiercely among a competitive field. Despite a challenging effort, she ultimately finished fifth overall. However, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike Women emerged victorious by securing both the mountains and youth classifications, alongside the team classification title.

“It was a tough day, and I did everything I could to defend my third place overall,” Chladoňová reflected. “We expected a bunch sprint today, but it still turned into a battle for the general classification. My rivals were just a bit stronger today. It’s fantastic that we won the two jerseys and the team classification. Winning the white jersey was one of our goals. It’s great that we achieved that. It shows how hard everyone works.”

The day’s race unfolded with a late breakaway of four riders who momentarily gained ground before encountering the climb. Race leader Demi Vollering exhibited aggressive tactics, launching an acceleration that only a select few could match. Despite the efforts of her teammates to help Chladoňová bridge the gap, they fell just short of reclaiming a podium position.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t ideally positioned for the climb, where the strongest riders in the race broke away,” team sports director Joppe de Heij noted. “We did everything possible to bring Viktória back to the front group, but it ultimately fell short by less than twenty seconds. It’s unfortunate that we missed out on a podium spot, but it’s impressive how we showed ourselves as a team. Winning the two jerseys and the team classification is a great reward. We can look back with satisfaction on these four days.”

In the end, although Chladoňová aimed for a higher placement, the accomplishments of her team brought significant pride and achievements for all involved.