04.06.2025 Continental, News, Race news

A YOUTHFUL BLEND OF EXPERIENCE & PROMISE FOR 'HOME RACE'

CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation returns to the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya – the second edition of the UCI 2.1 stage race in the team’s adopted region. While the WorldTeam is rooted in Leipzig, Germany, the Generation team and riders have long called Girona, the Catalan cycling hotspot, home.

Generation riders Maddie le Roux, Jule Märkl, Joëlle Messemer, Awen Roberts, and Emily Dixon will be bolstered by WorldTour teammates Neve Bradbury and Nastya Kolesava for three days of intense and competitive racing starting Friday, June 6.

For Nastya, this homecoming holds even more significance, having moved up to the WorldTeam from Generation in 2025.

“To be honest, I’m so excited to race with the Generation team again! I really miss racing with some of the girls from last season, because I know what they are capable of. For example Jule [Märkl], she’s so talented – the rider who will do everything she can for you. I’m also excited ride with Zwift Academy winner, Emily,” she says.

Asked about her biggest areas of growth since stepping up, Nastya explains, “I’ve learned how to truly work as a team, back one another up, and go to your limits for the leaders.”

As for Emily, the 18-year-old Australian has now been living and breathing European racing for two months, with eight race days under her belt. Her best UCI result so far was a top 30 finish at Grand Prix Féminin de Chambéry – a brutally selective race where only one third of the peloton made it to the line.

She’s proud of the improvements she’s been able to track in such a short time.

“I think for me, they’ve been big in the positioning. It may be a small thing for other people, but this is massive for me because it’s been something I really struggle with. So yeah, I’ve seen the front of the European peloton!” she jokes.

“That’s been a really big improvement for me. And also learning to communicate more on the radio because coming from juniors, we didn’t have this. And a small thing, is that I’ve learned to pin the numbers on properly. Jule [Märkl] is teaching me. I didn’t use enough pins before. And you also have to scrunch them – apparently I didn’t scrunch them enough,” she jokes again…

Looking ahead to Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, Emily’s goal is clear, although though far from simple.

“I think being able to help the team – I know we have some strong girls who can really lead the way for us, especially Neve. If I can actually help her and be up the front, able to do my job, that would be very cool.”

Stage two is set to be the determining day for the general classification – short but savage at just 72 kilometres, with more than 2300 metres of climbing crammed in. The bulk of the elevation comes from the monstrous Coll de Pal – an eye-watering 19.1 km at 6.8%, climbing into the peaks of the Catalan Pyrenees from the south. Last year’s summit finish was at La Molina Ski Resort, located across the range, but this year’s route goes higher still, topping out at a lung-burning 2100m in altitude.

Even before this main course, riders face a tough warm-up on the Collet de Cal Ros (10.1 km at 4.1%), cresting at the 29.5 km mark – a demanding appetiser. The stage also negotiates narrow, twisting ribbons of mountain road, adding technical complexity to the sheer physical challenge.

This high-altitude showdown is sandwiched between two longer stages, both hovering around 114km. Stage one includes over 1700m of climbing, tackled on smooth, sweeping ascents that are long but steady.

Stage three already holds history for the women’s peloton. Finishing in the striking setting of Barcelona’s Plaça d’Espanya, the route closely mirrors last year’s final stage, which ended in a large bunch sprint at the iconic location. Elevation builds gradually through rolling, net-uphill terrain for most of the day, before a fast, technical descent leads into the flatter outskirts of the Catalan capital.

Interestingly, this high-octane descent is the same one most recently featured in stage two of La Vuelta Femenina, although this time the final run-in from the base to the finish are longer and more straightforward than the version raced in early May.

The women’s peloton are becoming regular visitors to Barcelona which really, is quite a buzzing place to end a bike race!

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage available via RTVE, Eurosport, Discovery+, TNT Sports, and FloBikes. Stay updated on X with #VoltaCatalunya, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels for the latest team updates.

Overview