Description
June 19, 2026
3rd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina 2026 🇪🇸 (2.1) WE – Stage 1 – Santa Susanna – Santa Susanna : 91,9 km
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina is a UCI 2.WWT classification stage race that unfolds across the dramatic and varied landscapes of Catalonia,
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June 19, 2026
3rd Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina 2026 🇪🇸 (2.1) WE – Stage 1 – Santa Susanna – Santa Susanna : 91,9 km
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina is a UCI 2.WWT classification stage race that unfolds across the dramatic and varied landscapes of Catalonia, where the roads climb into the rugged Pyrenees, descend through sun-drenched valleys, and twist along the Mediterranean coast. The terrain is a relentless mix of long, sustained ascents and short, explosive climbs, with gradients frequently reaching 8–12% on narrow, winding roads that cut through pine forests, rocky outcrops, and terraced hillsides. The climbs are often irregular, featuring steep ramps, exposed sections, and technical switchbacks, while the descents are fast and demanding, with sharp corners and uneven surfaces that test a rider’s skill and composure. The race dynamics are defined by the constant changes in elevation and the tactical opportunities they present, with attacks launching on the steepest sections or during the high-altitude stages, where the peloton thins to a select group of climbers. The flatter stages are rarely straightforward, often featuring crosswinds along the coastal roads or punchy hills that disrupt the rhythm and create opportunities for late breaks. The sprint finishes are fast and technical, contested on wide roads or slightly uphill drags that reward power and positioning, while the mountain stages often conclude with a reduced group battling for victory on a final ascent or a fast descent into a picturesque Catalan town. The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina is a race of contrasts—where the beauty of the Catalan landscapes belies the brutality of its parcours, demanding climbing prowess, tactical intelligence, and resilience from start to finish.
Nienke Veenhoven was the fastest in a reduced group sprint, winning a crash-marred opening stage at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina.
It was a 1-2 finish for Visma-Lease a Bike, with Marianne Vos, who was on Veenhoven’s wheel in the run-in to the line, sitting up to take second place. Valentine Fortin (Cofidis) crossed the line in third place in Santa Susanna.
“The start was quite hard, and a lot of teams worked to get in the breakaway ahead of the climbs,” Veenhoven said. “Luckily, we managed to come over it, and we had a really nice plan for the final. The plan was to do the sprint with Marianne today, but everything worked out well. Margaux Vigié did a really long pull in the end, and it helped us, and it happened how it happened. I’m really happy to take the win.”
Veenhoven will wear the leader’s jersey into the second stage on Saturday’s 130km race from Sant Vicenç de Castellet to La Molina.
The 5th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina opened with a 91.9km race in and out of Santa Susanna. It was a mainly flat stage except for two mid-race category 3 climbs: Coll del Pollastre (2.4km at 2.8%) and Alt de Collsacreu (3.1km at 5.7%) before a 45km race to the finish line.
A strong field that included five top-tier teams lined up in Santa Susanna, and it remained largely intact until the lead-up to the first of the two ascents, when a breakaway of three formed that included Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels), Constance Valentin (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), and Aranza Valentina Villalón (Eneicat-Be Call).
The trio reached the lower slopes of the Coll del Pollastre with 25 seconds in hand. Molenaar proved strongest of the three and distanced her breakaway companions halfway up the second ascent of Alt de Collsacreu.
The lone breakaway rider managed to hold her 11-second lead over the top and across the descent, but with FDJ United-SUEZ towing the main peloton, her chances of staying away on the long roads to the finish appeared slim.
Defying those odds, the Dutch rider pushed her lead out to 1:15 with 13km to go as Cofidis and then Visma-Lease a Bike took up the pace-setting at the front of the peloton.
A crash with 7.4km to go caused some disruption in the field, but all the riders involved were able to get back on their bikes to finish the race.
With three kilometres of racing to go, Molenaar was caught as the field prepared for a sprint, but another crash inside the last kilometre, through a left-hand turn, saw several riders go down and the field split apart.
Visma-Lease a Bike led what was left of the field into the final straightaway, setting up Veenhoven for the day’s sprint victory.
Results :
 WE - Stage 1 </strong> - Santa Susanna - Santa Susanna : 91,9 km
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Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina is a UCI 2.WWT classification stage race that unfolds across the dramatic and varied landscapes of Catalonia, where the roads climb into the rugged Pyrenees, descend through sun-drenched valleys, and twist along the Mediterranean coast. The terrain is a relentless mix of long, sustained ascents and short, explosive climbs, with gradients frequently reaching 8–12% on narrow, winding roads that cut through pine forests, rocky outcrops, and terraced hillsides. The climbs are often irregular, featuring steep ramps, exposed sections, and technical switchbacks, while the descents are fast and demanding, with sharp corners and uneven surfaces that test a rider’s skill and composure. The race dynamics are defined by the constant changes in elevation and the tactical opportunities they present, with attacks launching on the steepest sections or during the high-altitude stages, where the peloton thins to a select group of climbers. The flatter stages are rarely straightforward, often featuring crosswinds along the coastal roads or punchy hills that disrupt the rhythm and create opportunities for late breaks. The sprint finishes are fast and technical, contested on wide roads or slightly uphill drags that reward power and positioning, while the mountain stages often conclude with a reduced group battling for victory on a final ascent or a fast descent into a picturesque Catalan town. The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina is a race of contrasts—where the beauty of the Catalan landscapes belies the brutality of its parcours, demanding climbing prowess, tactical intelligence, and resilience from start to finish.
Nienke Veenhoven was the fastest in a reduced group sprint, winning a crash-marred opening stage at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina.
It was a 1-2 finish for Visma-Lease a Bike, with Marianne Vos, who was on Veenhoven's wheel in the run-in to the line, sitting up to take second place. Valentine Fortin (Cofidis) crossed the line in third place in Santa Susanna.
"The start was quite hard, and a lot of teams worked to get in the breakaway ahead of the climbs," Veenhoven said. "Luckily, we managed to come over it, and we had a really nice plan for the final. The plan was to do the sprint with Marianne today, but everything worked out well. Margaux Vigié did a really long pull in the end, and it helped us, and it happened how it happened. I'm really happy to take the win."
Veenhoven will wear the leader's jersey into the second stage on Saturday's 130km race from Sant Vicenç de Castellet to La Molina.
The 5th Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina opened with a 91.9km race in and out of Santa Susanna. It was a mainly flat stage except for two mid-race category 3 climbs: Coll del Pollastre (2.4km at 2.8%) and Alt de Collsacreu (3.1km at 5.7%) before a 45km race to the finish line.
A strong field that included five top-tier teams lined up in Santa Susanna, and it remained largely intact until the lead-up to the first of the two ascents, when a breakaway of three formed that included Laura Molenaar (VolkerWessels), Constance Valentin (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), and Aranza Valentina Villalón (Eneicat-Be Call).
The trio reached the lower slopes of the Coll del Pollastre with 25 seconds in hand. Molenaar proved strongest of the three and distanced her breakaway companions halfway up the second ascent of Alt de Collsacreu.
The lone breakaway rider managed to hold her 11-second lead over the top and across the descent, but with FDJ United-SUEZ towing the main peloton, her chances of staying away on the long roads to the finish appeared slim.
Defying those odds, the Dutch rider pushed her lead out to 1:15 with 13km to go as Cofidis and then Visma-Lease a Bike took up the pace-setting at the front of the peloton.
A crash with 7.4km to go caused some disruption in the field, but all the riders involved were able to get back on their bikes to finish the race.
With three kilometres of racing to go, Molenaar was caught as the field prepared for a sprint, but another crash inside the last kilometre, through a left-hand turn, saw several riders go down and the field split apart.
Visma-Lease a Bike led what was left of the field into the final straightaway, setting up Veenhoven for the day's sprint victory.
<strong>Results : </strong>
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