Tour of the pyrenees. Second on the queen's stage, Nadia Gontova confirms her status

Jun 14, 2025, 09:08 PM

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Photo credit : Vincent Soubabère / Winspace Orange Seal

Nadia Gontova, who was in a leading quartet with 4 kilometres to go, achieved her best result in Europe since joining the French team. Second, just 16 seconds behind Usoa Ostolaza (Laboral Kutxa - Fundacioń Euskadi) at the summit of the Col du Soulor at an altitude of 1471m, the Canadian remains very well placed in the general classification to claim overall victory.

"This is a team with very good legs on this Tour of the Pyrenees." Audrey Cordon-Ragot, a recently retired former professional cyclist who has turned consultant, is not wrong. Winspace Orange Seal is in great shape. Very good form. While Constance Valentin and Aurela Nerlo stalled at the foot of the Col du Soulor, Karolina Perekitko and Nadia Gontova pulled away in a group of around ten riders.

With four kilometres to go, Poland's Karolina Perekitko broke away, while a leading quartet emerged, including Nadia Gontova. The Canadian attacked with 1.4 kilometres to go, but to no avail. With no one able to follow Usoa Ostolaza (Laboral Kutxa - Fundacioń Euskadi), Nadia Gontova managed to climb into second place, 16 seconds behind the day's winner.

"I was hoping to have good legs today. It's my best result in Europe. I'm not thinking about tomorrow yet. I'm very happy with my place", she told on France Télévisions. Thanks to this great finish, Nadia Gontova is now second in the provisional rankings ahead of the final stage on Sunday.

"I'm really happy to come second. The team really protected me all day and I went into the last climb feeling very strong. On the climb, I followed the wheels and I was happy to be in the leading group. I tried to attack at the end, but I couldn't open up a gap. In the last kilometre, I couldn't follow the attack of the winner, but I gave everything I had for second place. The whole team was very strong today and I'm looking forward to another day of racing tomorrow", she continued.

Damien Pommereau : "We know that Karolina and Nadia do quite well in the mountains"

"It's a great stage with this second place. It's a very good result for the team. There's a high level of competition in this race. The aim was to protect Karolina and Nadia and get them to the foot of the Col du Soulor in the best possible position, not too far from the front of the race to avoid any breaks. Aurela Nerlo and Constance Valentin and even Kiara Lylyk did this very well. At a finish like this, it's the legs that do the talking. The team was able to do its job well. They were well placed to start the climb, which was in two parts. The first climb was to Argelès-Gazost. After that it smoothed out a little. There was already a first selection. There were already only 30-35 girls. Before a final game at Arras-en-Lavedan. We know that Karolina and Nadia do quite well in the mountains," said Damien Pommereau after the second stage."

Marine Allione dropped out. "Perhaps it's the after-effects of the United States. She rode over 300km in the Unbound Gravel a fortnight ago", explains Damien Pommereau.

The final stage of this Tour of the Pyrenees promises to be thrilling...

Stage classification :

2nd - Nadia Gontova

13th - Karolina Perekitko

21st - Aurela Nerlo

26th - Constance Valentin

56th - Kiara Lylyk

Provisional overall rankings :

2nd - Nadia Gontova

11th - Karolina Perekitko

21st - Aurela Nerlo

25th - Constance Valentin

53rd - Kiara Lylyk