DIXON DELIVERS VICTORY FOR GENERATION IN CZECHIA

After bolting clear from a select front group across the sloping, cobbled final 150 metres, Emily Dixon delivered victory on the opening stage of Gracia Orlová, a UCI 2.1 race in the Czech Republic.

It wasn’t just her first professional win, or even her first UCI podium. Remarkably, it was the first victory that the 19-year-old can truly remember on the bike (unless you’re counting the 2024 Zwift Academy!). Unsurprisingly, Emily was elated with the breakthrough result – one she arrived at Gracia Orlová determined to secure.

“I feel like I’m always close, but not quite there, so it’s really awesome to be able to pull it off after a great day of super teamwork. I was really full-in for Jule [Märkl] until she had a mechanical in the final km. I really appreciate that she just said ‘go’, and because we were positioned so well coming into the final, I just knew we had it.”

The opening stage was short but demanding – 99km with 1365m of elevation gain. The course was moulded by the constantly rolling terrain of north-eastern Czechia, with dragging climbs and a stinging, partially cobbled final km averaging 9%.

“It was a super fast stage because we had a tailwind the whole way, which makes it a little hectic, but it was super fun – it’s always cool to ride especially fast,” Emily explained. “I felt reasonably safe in the peloton. There were some attacks, but we made sure to control them and kept everything at a distance we could close.”

Heading into the final 10km, everything was going according to plan, with the team firmly dictating proceedings at the head of the peloton. That control was no coincidence. The Generation squad continues to show its force as a collective, with strong off-bike culture translating into cohesive, committed teamwork on it, something Emily was quick to highlight.

“Although it’s hard to race without radios [a UCI .2 level regulation], I don’t think it was a problem for us today because we communicated and stayed together, which helped so much. The girls really sacrificed themselves for me and Jule.”

“Coming into the last right-hand corner before the drag to the finish was super important. We talked about that in the team meeting – how we needed to be in the first five positions. Even though it’s a longer climb, starting from the front makes it so much easier. All the pieces came together really well and we executed the final km exactly as planned, so I’m super happy I could finish it off.”

Emily’s victory also represents a fresh milestone. It’s the first European UCI win for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation since now WorldTour rider Antonia Niedermaier triumphed at the Tour de l’Ardèche in 2022.

With four stages still to come, starting with Friday’s 115km queen stage that features a longer, less punchy finishing climb (6.4km at 6.8%), it would be hard to bet against a repeat performance. Emily was cautiously optimistic, saying:

“I’d love to go back-to-back tomorrow – we’ll just have to see how the climbing legs are. I think today was a good warm-up for what’s coming. If we position and work together like we did today, then I think we can do it again. Whether it’s me or one of the other girls, they’re all looking really strong, so I’m excited for tomorrow.”

From Australia in her second year with the team, Emily began the 2026 season with a clear but ambitious goal to step onto a UCI podium in Europe. Safe to say, she’s ticked that box… and then some.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Stage 2 | Fri, May 01 | Trinec – Pustevny | 115.7km | 2037m elevation | start: 10:30 – 13:48 CET.

Stage 3 | Sat, May 02 | Havirov – Havirov | 13.5km | 20m elevation | first rider start: 9:00 CET.

Stage 4 | Sat, May 02 | Bohumin – Bohumin | 97km | 585m elevation | start: 16:00 – 18:17 CET. 

Stage 5 | Sun, May 03 | Orlová – Orlová | 104.1km | 1072m elevation | start: 10:00 – 12:40 CET.

Gracia Orlová is not broadcast live, but real-time tracking and results will be available on the event’s website. The race can also be followed via #GraciaOrlova, as well as through the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto social channels.