CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto will line up at the Setmana Ciclista Volta Feminina de la Comunitat Valenciana, led by the powerful pairing of Kasia Niewiadoma and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Both riders will make their season debuts and race together for the first time.

Joining them is a strong and versatile line-up that includes Justyna Czapla, Nastya Kolesava and Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, all of whom are riding well and ready to tackle the race’s varied terrain. The seven-rider roster is completed by up-and-coming talents of  CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation, Awen Roberts and Jule Märkl, who are both entering their second seasons in the elite ranks.

Kasia heads into the race eager to test herself after a solid winter training period, all while also settling into the team’s racing rhythm for 2025.

“I’m feeling good – definitely physically ready. Mentally, I can start to feel the nervousness of racing creeping in. There’s always this time when winter preparations are finished and all of a sudden, it’s time to race. That transition is always a bit stressful, but I’m really looking forward to restarting things and getting close to all those big races that we’ve been preparing towards for many months.”

An exciting development for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto this season has been the arrival of Cecilie, adding fresh firepower and versatility to the team. Kasia is particularly enthusiastic about the potential synergy between them.

“I am definitely looking forward to racing with Cecilie. We are very similar riders, so I hope to have opportunities where we will be able to play different cards and have situations that always benefit us, especially in the final. I think that with it being the first race, you never know where you’re at and how good your shape is, but I really hope that we can just kind of attack one after another, to create good groups that favour the team.”

“I think our biggest advantage will be the ability to feel each other’s strengths in the moment, always back each other up, and then use the situations that we create. It’s always a work in progress and it’s hard to start racing together for the first time after years as competitors and have it dialled directly, but we’re both committed to finding the right rhythm. It’s really nice to have this stage race to practice, learn and gain some more knowledge about each other before starting the classics. I think that we all take this race as a final form polishing session – we can still get a good result, but it’s also to learn more about each other”.

Cecilie shares her enthusiasm ahead of her first race in the vibrant CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto ensemble.

“I’m filled with excitement and a little bit of nervous energy. This will be my first race with the team, and I feel a real sense of anticipation – not only for my own performance but also to showcase what we can do as a unit. I’m really hoping for some aggressive racing – just to get out there, light it up, and have fun with my teammates.”

“The past few months have been an incredibly positive experience in the new team environment. From day one, I felt welcomed and supported, which made it easy to connect with my teammates right away. I genuinely feel right at home. Overall, I feel very fortunate to be a part of this team. I’m excited to see what the future holds. I believe we’re capable of achieving great things together this season.”

 

THE RACE ITSELF

Setmana Ciclista Valenciana has been a reliable fixture on the women’s early season calendar since 2017, with Cecilie winning the General Classification in the race’s inaugural edition.

Originally classified as a 2.2 race, it was elevated to 2.Pro status in 2020, solidifying its role as a key event for top riders to build early-season form. The 2025 edition will feature a stacked field, attracting no less than 14 WorldTeams to the start line. 

The parcours for this year are a nod to years gone by, while still incorporating new roads and fresh scenery to keep the racing dynamic and unpredictable. 

– Stage 1: The race begins in Alzira for the first time, a large town 45km south of Valencia. The opening kilometres are flat before the terrain starts to roll at the 30km mark once joined onto a well-trodden route from previous editions. The climbing increases as the stage progresses, culminating in the 6km Alto de Barx before the fast, iconic 15km descent into Gandia – a finish that always promises to be a nail-biter.

– Stage 2: At 134km, this stage is the longest of the race. The route steadily climbs into the mountains, accumulating a majority of the 1850m total elevation gain, before a gradual descent back to the coast. The long, flat run-in to the finish could give the more versatile sprinters a chance to find their way back to the front. 

– Stage 3: A day that will likely swing one of two ways – a bunch kick or an opportunistic breakaway. The route is another frequent feature in the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, with the 8.2km Alto de l’Oronet cresting 30km from the finish in Valencia.

– Stage 4: The most demanding stage, packing 2200m of climbing into 132km of twisty, mountainous roads. The final 23km are flat leading into Alicante, the second-largest city in the region. Will the relentless climbing prove decisive, or will determined chasing groups piece the race back together?

Despite the difficulty, there are no truly decisive days, which makes opportunistic racing and time bonuses all the more critical for the General Classification. Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto won the Teams Classification last year, with Kasia Niewiadoma finishing 2nd on the GC. She has her eyes on a similar result again this year.

“I’m definitely looking forward to having a good battle for the GC. I think that usually the first stage is quite selective, so that’s going to be directly quite an honest description of where everyone is at.”

 

HOW TO FOLLOW

Setmana Ciclista Volta Feminina de la Comunitat Valenciana is normally live-streamed on the Sports Public TV Youtube channel. You can also follow the race on X using #SetmanaCiclista, as well as through the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto social channels.

Stage 1 | 112.2km | 1298m | Thursday 13 February | Alzira – Gandia | Start 14:10 CET – fastest finish 17:14.

Stage 2 | 134km | 1850m | Friday 14 February | Benicàssim – Nules | Start 13:00 CET – fastest finish 16:50.

Stage 3 | 118km | 990m | Saturday 15 February | Sagunto  – Valencia | Start 11:00 CET – fastest finish 14:09.

Stage 4 | 132.5km| 2200m | Sunday 16 February | Elche – Alicante | Start 11:00 CET – fastest finish 14:34.

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