04.05.2025 World-Tour, News, Race news

CZAPLA CLAIMS BEST YOUNG RIDER HONOURS IN FIFTH-PLACE TTT AT LA VUELTA FEMENINA

CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto blasted to fifth place in a blisteringly fast and lung-busting team time trial to open La Vuelta Femenina, finishing eight seconds behind winners Lidl–Trek.

Crossing the line in central Barcelona safely ensconced within the team’s train, 21-year-old Justyna Czapla clocked the fastest time of all under 23 riders to earn the Best Young Rider award on stage one.

Rather than a jersey, a trophy is presented each day to the stage’s top young rider. At the end of the final stage, an overall award will be given to the highest-ranked U23 rider in the general classification.

For Justyna, a diminutive German climber who usually favours the high mountains over high-speed city circuits, the award highlights a proud moment after a race where she truly punched above her weight.

“It was hard from start to finish, but I think we worked really well as a team and did strong turns. We were fighting all the way to the end. Everyone gave their best, and I think we can be happy with today.”

“Even in our TTT training, I felt really good. Of course it was hard from the beginning, but I surprised myself a bit with how strong I felt during the race. I could do my turns and support the team right until the line.”

The performance is especially meaningful and pleasantly unexpected for Justyna, who last year was unable to start La Vuelta Femenina due to illness.

“I’m so, so happy. This is my first time ever leading in a stage race, and in my first grand tour too. I’m really proud. It would be nice to hold onto the lead for as long as I can, maybe even to the end, why not?! But the biggest goal is to help the team and support our ambitions, and this Best Young Rider award comes second.”

The 8.1 kilometre effort, just 9 minutes and 38 seconds in duration, was a well-executed performance with full commitment from every rider. Despite this, the result came with a sense of unfinished business for what could have been achieved with more time to fine-tune, as Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney explains:

“Overall, I think we did okay, but we could’ve done better if we’d had more runs, so to speak. I felt we all had this feeling afterwards where we wished that we could have ridden it again. The first big effort as a team feels good, but then you also learn so much from it, so I think there are small things we can pinpoint that may have cost us a couple seconds. We all feel positive knowing that the strength is there, and also maybe frustrated that the result is not reflecting it again, but with that mentality and a positive mindset, we can move forward towards the next stages.”

Chloé Dygert adds:

“If you look at the composition of many of the teams who finished in front of us, many have experienced time trial riders. The experience level we have and what we did is something to be proud of for what the future can hold, but at the same it’s a bummer we couldn’t do better today.”

Speaking of whom, there was one source of inspiration for Kasia in particular during the team effort.

“It was really nice to be united, and for me, it was great to feel Chloé’s power – really experience the sufferfest on her wheel. It’s so motivating to think, ‘damn, someone can be that strong. Let’s build up to that.’”

She was also impressed by Justyna’s performance.

“Justyna was quite nervous because she was in front of Chloé, which meant every time she finished her turn, she had to catch the wheel just as Chloé was pulling. We all know that’s the hardest position. She was thrown into deep waters, but she fought for her spot and came out of it amazingly. It’s not easy for young riders to handle that kind of pressure; having to finish with the team, but she gave strong pulls and was still there at the end. For her, it’s a great positive kick at the start of a stage race.”

With an encouraging start that fuelled both positive momentum and a hunger for more, the team now shifts its focus to the road stages. Tomorrow’s second stage may cover a modest 99km, but it’s far from easy – featuring over 1500m of elevation along sinuous coastal roads that snake through the hills behind Barcelona.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage is available on RTVE, Eurosport/ Discovery Plus, TNT Sports, FloBikes, SBS (Australia), and other national broadcasters, through to the final stage atop Alto de Cotobello on Saturday, May 10. Follow the race each day on X using #LaVueltaFemenina and #UCIWWT, and stay updated with CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto via our social channels.

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