Alps. Nadia Gontova as boss, Karolina Perekitko in her wheels
- jonathanrusssel5
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
Jun 9, 2025, 05:22 AM
A dream day for the French team at the Alpes Gresivaudan classic. Canadian Nadia Gontova rode solo with 8km to go to take a fine third place, after being caught by Valentina Cavallar and Lotte Claes (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) a few hectometres from the summit of Collet d'Allevard. The other Winspace Orange Seal leader Karolina Perekitko was tenth.
She never ceases to amaze us. Nadia Gontova, who has been with Winspace Orange Seal since 2025, just keeps getting better. Always well placed, the Canadian distanced her rivals with 37 kilometres to go (2'45‘’ lead with 10 km to go), in the company of Lotte Claes, before taking off 8 km from the summit of Collet d'Allevard. Finally caught by Valetina Cavallar and Lotte Claes (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), the cyclist took a prestigious place on the podium.
Nadia Gontova : "I'm happy to have kept my third place"
"I was in a breakaway with Lotte on the descent with around 30km to go. We worked well together to open up a gap, but unfortunately I didn't have the legs I was hoping for on the final climb. I'm happy to have kept my third place."
Franck Renimel : "Nadia's place is no surprise"
"We had to be attentive in the first 25 kilometres and be present in the attacks. In the end, it was all down to the rear. We knew that the Arkéa B&B Hotels team was well represented. They were going to attack well before the final pass. Nadia was there. She found the opening with Lotte Claes (Arkéa-B&B Hotels). We were in a good position at that point. The group finally exploded on the first slopes of the final pass. Nadia found herself at the front for the first time. She was caught by Lotte Claes who dropped her. At this point, Karolina was also in trouble at the back. Valentina Cavallar (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) closed the gap and came back on Nadia. When she got ahead of her, we were playing for third place. We had to fight right to the end. We knew it was going to be complicated. The best we could have done would have been two. It's good for Nadia. We knew she had what it takes. It's no surprise. We had to hold on to her in the final."
Karolina Perekitko : "We're very happy with our podium today"
"Nadia went off in a breakaway. It was a really good situation for us. I stayed in the peloton all day and followed the girls. But from km 60 onwards, I got food poisoning and started to suffer. It was disappointing. I would have liked to help Nadia on the last climb and challenge the girls from Arkea B&b Hotels. But there's another race on the horizon and we're very happy with our podium today."
Riders rankings :
3rd - Nadia Gontova
10th - Karolina Perekitko
43rd - Fiona Mangan
53rd - Marie-Morgane Le Deunff
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