BRADBURY CLIMBS TO 6TH ON MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN IN CATALUNYA

On the Queen stage of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina, covering a daunting 72 kilometres with over 2300m of climbing, Neve Bradbury showed clear signs of progress by finishing 6th on a summit finish at the mighty Coll de Pal.

The relentless 19km climb, averaging nearly 7% in gradient, proved a formidable test – rising to over 2100m altitude and unquestionably challenging riders with its persistent gradients.

Neve’s commendable ride up the mountain lifted her two places overall to 7th on the general classification, just 46 seconds shy of the top five.

Reflecting on the short but brutal stage, Neve shared:

“There were lots of attacks in the first 50 kilometres, but none stuck for long. Although, in the flat section before the final climb, four riders did get away. It was a hot day, so the team worked hard to get water and ice from the car multiple times. Tactics weren’t really a factor today – I just knew I had to suffer for an hour and hope for the best. I wasn’t thinking about the result; I just wanted to feel involved in the race and catch a glimpse of the old Neve. I think I did, so I’m happy.”

By her own admission, the first half of the season has been a challenging and disappointing one. A solid early benchmark came with a fourth place on Willunga Hill at the Tour Down Under in January, but since then, consistency at the top level has been elusive.

Although the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya is a UCI 2.1-level race, it has provided Neve with a valuable chance to test herself and rebuild confidence following a tough La Vuelta Femenina.

In stage one of Catalunya, Neve placed 9th after being distanced by the elite trio of Vollering (FST), Chabbey (FST), and Santesteban (LTF) on the Coll de Porrera (3.3 km at 6.8%) with 40km remaining. She and climbing companion, Bunel (TVL), were then caught by a larger chasing group of 12. As the lone CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto rider, Neve had to ride smart. Navigating the careful tactics within the group, she picked her moments to collaborate and conserve energy, ultimately finishing 9th on the stage – 5th in her eventual group.

Stage three is unlikely to bring major shifts in the general classification. It’s a slightly longer, hillier version of last year’s finale, which ended in a large group sprint. Still, with rolling terrain and twisting roads around Barcelona’s hilly outskirts, there will be opportunities for those bold enough to take a chance.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Stage 3 | Sunday, June 8 | Casteldefells – Barcelona | 114.5km | 1201m elevation | Start: 11:00 – Fastest finish: 13:51 CET. LIVE 12:15.

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.