Demi Vollering made a strong season debut for FDJ-SUEZ at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, dropping Anna van der Breggen, who returned to racing after more than three years, on the Alto de Barx, winning the stage and setting a new climb record.
The Spanish race was special, with Demi Vollering making her debut for the FDJ-SUEZ superteam and Anna van der Breggen returning to competition for the first time since 2021. Women’s cycling has changed significantly since then. With the summit of the Alto de Barx (4.6 km at 5.7%) not far from the finish, it was always going to be a decisive climb. Before reaching it, Eleonora Ciabocco had completed 1,194 kilojoules of work over 2 hours and 17 minutes, averaging 10.6 kJ/kg/h.
FDJ-SUEZ executed a full lead-out for Vollering on the Alto de Barx, having brought a strong squad featuring Evita Muzic, Elise Chabbey, Amber Kraak, Nina Buijsman, Jade Wiel, and Eugénie Duval. Despite the climb’s relatively low average gradient of under 6% in the first part, the peloton was strung out and reduced before Vollering launched her attack. When she accelerated, only her former Tour de France sports director, Van der Breggen, could hold her wheel, with Marlen Reusser not far behind. However, on a steeper section of the climb, Van der Breggen was eventually dropped.
Vollering delivered an outstanding effort for her season opener, producing 6.03 ᵉW/kg for 10 minutes and 43 seconds. Already at the level she showed in last year’s La Vuelta, Burgos, and Itzulia. She shattered Annemiek van Vleuten’s 2021 record by over 40 seconds. Van der Breggen lost 26 seconds on the climb, managing 5.62 ᵉW/kg, while Reusser, who spent less time drafting, produced 5.67 ᵉW/kg.
After the climb, Vollering held her advantage to take the stage victory, while Reusser caught Van der Breggen and finished 29 seconds behind the winner. The remaining climbers finished in by a larger group, with Elisa Balsamo winning the 26-rider bunch sprint.
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Any chance of video hightlights?
Return of AVB versus Demi is pretty interesting no?