Vuelta a Extremadura. A successful first day for WOS

Mar 7, 2025, 03:22 AM

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Photo credit : Vuelta a Extremadura

Already present last year, the French team is back in Spain. The first day was marked by a promising time trial by Nadia Gontova. Marine Allione took 17th place on stage 1b. Camille Fahy, Jenaya Francis, Florence Normand, Karolina Perekitko and Constance Valentin are all looking to make their mark.

After a dazzling first weekend in March (second place for Aurela Nerlo in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and eleventh place for Kiara Lylyk in the Omloop van het Hageland), Winspace Orange Seal is already back on the roads in south-west Spain for the Tour of Extremadura. A breathtaking first day comprising two half-stages, a 9.1 km time-trial (1a) followed by a short 81.5 km road stage (1b).

“The girls really helped me”, Nadia Gontova

A first time trial of the season and a first sign of satisfaction for Karolina Perekitko and her team-mates. Canadian Nadia Gondova, who arrived in 2025, took 35th place, 1'19'' behind winner Ellen Van Dijk (Lidl -Trek). Despite this convincing result, Nadia Gontova made no secret of her disappointment. “The race was too short and technical for me”, she says. Her compatriot Jenaya Francis showed all her rolling qualities (39th at 1'21''). Camille Fahy also made a comeback after a knee injury. “Time Trial is not my specialty. I haven't worked on it”, she explains. “It was an opportunity to test how the legs responded.”

With barely enough time to rest, Constance Valentin and her team-mates were back in the saddle. Setting off shortly after 4pm, they “worked well as a team”, says Camille Fahy. “The girls helped me a lot”, adds Nadia Gontova. Marine Allione took 17th place in the sprint. A rather calm stage. Quite the opposite of tomorrow's stage, which will be more suited to climbers. “I'm exciting for a bigger climb tomorrow”, concludes Nadia Gontova. The date is set.

Results stage 1a (time trial) :

Nadia Gontova : 35th

Jenaya Francis : 39th

Marine Allione : 50th

Constance Valentin : 59th

Karolina Perekitko : 61st

Camille Fahy : 63rd

Florence Normand: 67th

Results stage 1b :

Marine Allione : 17th

Karolina Perekitko : 29th

Francis Jenaya : 35th

Nadia Gontova : 36th

Camille Fahy : 37th

Constance Valentin : 44th

Florence Normand : 65th