Chladoňová impresses with third place in opening stage of Setmana Ciclista Valenciana

# Viktória Chladoňová Shines with Podium Finish in Setmana Ciclista Valenciana Opener

Viktória Chladoňová of Team Visma | Lease a Bike secured an impressive third place in the opening stage of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, a 121-kilometer ride in and around Gandia. The race faced an uncertain start due to strong winds, prompting discussions about its continuation. Ultimately, a team vote confirmed that the stage would go ahead.

The team began with seven riders but faced an early challenge when Nienke Veenhoven fell ill and had to withdraw. Despite this setback, Chladoňová and her teammates were determined to make their mark.

As the race progressed, Imogen Wolff and Lieke Nooijen contributed to the team’s efforts by securing bonus seconds. Chladoňová and Rosita Reijnhout tackled the Alto de Barx climb, joining the chase for the podium spots.

Reflecting on her performance, Chladoňová expressed her pride in the team, stating, “We have shown that we are in good shape and ready for whatever comes our way.” She sprinted strongly to finish third behind Demi Vollering, who crossed the line solo. Chladoňová added, “It was a strange start to the day, as we weren’t sure whether the stage would go ahead or not. I felt very strong today and was in a chasing group with Rosita. When the opportunity to sprint arose, I went for the best possible result.”

Making his debut as the team’s sports director, Joppe de Heij praised Chladoňová’s performance, remarking, “I find it quite surprising that Viktória sprinted to third place here, but at the same time it’s great. The first race of the season is always exciting.”

With three podium places in the youth classification and a third position overall, the team is optimistic for the upcoming stages. De Heij noted, “Our goal was to win a stage with Nienke and take the white jersey with Viktória. Unfortunately, Nienke has fallen ill, so we can cross that goal off the list. However, now that we are third in the general classification, we are secretly hoping for a podium place.”

The competition in the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana continues to be fierce, but Team Visma | Lease a Bike takes their momentum into the next stages, ready to face the challenges ahead.