The Navarra Elite Classics has carved out a clear identity on the calendar: a one-day Spanish race where the terrain does not allow for much hiding. Based out of Pamplona, the route takes in a series of steep climbs, many of them short but sharp enough to splinter the race across multiple points. With a profile built to provoke aggression and a finish that rarely comes down to a reduced sprint, it has become a haven for riders willing to take risks early.
First held in 2019, the race spent its early years as a lower-ranked event before joining the UCI Women’s ProSeries in 2023. That promotion mirrored the quality of winners it had already attracted – Sarah Roy, Annemiek van Vleuten, Arlenis Sierra and Veronica Ewers all claimed victories during its first four editions. Since then, the Classics-style punchy terrain and relatively compact 135km distance have created fertile ground for late solo moves, a pattern now firmly established in recent editions.
Both Riejanne Markus in 2023 and Hannah Ludwig in 2024 won solo from long-range attacks after decisive moments on the final climbs. Markus surged clear with 11km to go after the breakaway fell apart, while Ludwig launched her move just before the last ascent of the Muro de Arlegui and never looked back. In both cases, the chasers hesitated, and the window closed. With steep gradients encouraging selection and late climbs offering an ideal launchpad, the Navarra Elite Classics is a race that consistently tips the scales towards those prepared to go all-in.
Photo Credit: GettyTactically, it sits somewhere between an Ardennes-style test and a condensed climbing stage. The succession of hills – often nine or more categorised climbs – may not be long, but they’re frequent and close enough together to make recovery difficult. That leads to a race of attrition, with a constantly reduced front group, reshuffled again and again until only the strongest are left in contention. Even when breakaways gain ground, as they did in 2023 with a group including Mareille Meijering, Elena Pirrone and Ella Harris, there’s rarely enough flat road to consolidate. Momentum swings quickly, and hesitation is usually punished.
Pamplona itself adds a distinctive character. Known for its punchy finishes and narrow approach roads, the city always delivers a finale that rewards solo resilience or small group opportunism. With no sprint-friendly stages and little space for regrouping, sprinters tend to be written out of the script early.
Previous Winners
2024
Hannah Ludwig
2023
Riejanne Markus
2022
Veronica Ewers
2025 Navarra Elite Classics Race Profile
Live TV Coverage
Wednesday 14th May 2025
EITB has free coverage, but a VPN is likely needed – Maybe also on Navarra Televisión too
Live: 14:00-17:00
All times in BST
Twitter: #NavarraWomensClassic
Startlist: FirstCycling
Navarra Elite Classics 2025 Contenders
There’s quiet anticipation around Antonia Niedermaier as she takes the lead role for Canyon SRAM zondacrypto at this year’s Navarra Elite Classics. The undulating terrain should suit her better than some of the flatter, punchier races she’s faced recently as she continues her comeback from injury. While she hasn’t hit top form just yet, the longer climbs and steadier rhythm of this race offer a chance to settle in and test her legs against quality opposition. A strong ride here would mark a welcome return to the level she’s capable of. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, meanwhile, remains something of a mystery in 2025. She’s yet to post a significant result this season and has lacked the usual spark that makes her so dangerous on these kinds of courses. That said, if she’s able to find rhythm mid-race, she’s a rider with the experience and finishing strength to suddenly pop up in the final. Whether she’s riding to support Niedermaier or given freedom herself may depend on how the race unfolds in the second half.
Plenty of options are available to EF Education-Oatly, who arrive with a balanced mix of sprint capability and climbing talent. Letizia Borghesi is the most obvious finisher, having already shown sharp form with 3rd place on the first road stage at La Vuelta Femenina. That came off the back of her huge Paris-Roubaix ride, and her ability to handle hard days and still sprint from reduced groups makes her a standout for this kind of race. On hillier terrain, Kim Cadzow offers something different. The New Zealander thrives when the road rolls and she’s allowed to push the pace or attack from the group. She’s a perfect foil to Borghesi, especially if the plan is to race proactively rather than waiting for a bunch sprint. Veronica Ewers, winner of this race in 2022, continues her patient build back to form. A repeat win may be out of reach at this point in her return, but she’s tactically smart, and this will be another test of where she’s at now. If the race becomes chaotic late on, she might yet play a crucial role.
Defending champion Hannah Ludwig returns to Navarra as one of the most closely watched riders in the field. Her 2024 win was a perfectly judged performance on terrain that suited her climbing style and powerful engine, and a repeat is certainly not out of the question. She’s shown flashes this season of returning to that same level and will relish racing again on these roads. Julie Bego, 5th in the same edition, continues to look more confident with every appearance in races with elevation and unpredictability. The young Frenchwoman is aggressive and tactically sharp, often putting herself in the right place when selections form. Cofidis will likely give both riders a licence to chase results, with Bego possibly the one to follow earlier moves and Ludwig holding fire for a decisive attack closer to the finish. The team knows this race well and has the tools to contend again.
Expectations are high for Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi, especially with Ane Santesteban racing on home roads. A regular contender in Navarra, she was 2nd in 2022 and has added 9th-place finishes in both 2020 and 2023, showing consistency across editions and in different race scenarios. That experience counts for a lot, especially on a rolling course like this that punishes poor positioning and rewards intelligent effort. With her recent ride at La Vuelta Femenina showing decent climbing form despite riding in support at times, a top-5 isn’t out of the question if the race splits on the long drags into the final. Supporting her will be Alice Maria Arzuffi, whose cyclocross background brings punch and agility to technical terrain. She can cover moves in the middle phase and potentially get up the road if the race opens early. The team’s strength lies in its cohesion, and if they race as a unit, one of them is likely to be there when it matters.
Strong recent results give Liv AlUla Jayco momentum heading into Navarra, particularly off the back of Monica Trinca Colonel’s performance at La Vuelta Femenina. The Italian finished 7th overall and backed it up with three top-10 stage results, showing she’s not just climbing well, but recovering consistently across stage races too. That sort of form translates well to a one-day race like this, especially one that demands depth over constant rolling climbs. Caroline Andersson adds further punch, having secured a pair of podiums at Gracia Orlová, and looks increasingly confident when the race is on. She’s not afraid to follow dangerous moves and could be a surprise presence if a smaller group gets away. Both riders offer flexibility, and the team may choose to play them off one another depending on how the early moves shape up. With no pure sprinter in the line-up, they’ll want to make this race hard and selective before the final 10 kilometres.
Movistar, always motivated on Spanish soil, brings a versatile pairing in Olivia Baril and Cat Ferguson. Baril is particularly at home on her adopted home Basque roads, having regularly performed well in this region. The Navarra parcours presents one of her better chances in 2025 to go for a win, especially if she can survive the key climbs and make it into a reduced group for the run-in. Her finishing speed isn’t the fastest, but she thrives in attritional races and has a knack for timing her attacks when others hesitate. Ferguson, still finding her rhythm in her first full professional season, had a standout showing at La Vuelta with two top-10 finishes in stages that varied in terrain. Her development has been steady and measured, and this course provides another opportunity to test herself against experienced opposition. The flatter sections of the route suit her more than the major mountain days, and with Baril as a clear leader, Ferguson may be freed up to follow late moves or go on the offensive earlier.
UAE Team ADQ’s lineup offers a blend of experience and in-form talent. Sofia Bertizzolo, who finished 8th here in 2021, is a proven force on rolling courses and should be a threat in a reduced bunch sprint. Karlijn Swinkels, 5th last year, has a strong start to her 2025 campaign but had that derailed through injury the last few months. So much so, we didn’t really get to see her during the Classics – she’s on the comeback trail. Paula Blasi adds a wildcard element – two recent wins show her sharpness, and this is a chance to step up in a deeper field. She has shown she can sprint but also attack and stay clear too. Erica Magnaldi rounds out the team with a punchy climbing option, particularly if the pace is high on the mid-race hills. She will be full of confidence too after a recent win at the GP Chambéry.
There’s a quiet tension around what we’ll see from Gaia Realini at the Navarra Elite Classics. After a muted 2025 campaign so far, the Italian climbing specialist remains one of Lidl-Trek’s most explosive weapons on the steep ramps and rolling terrain these races offer. While her best has yet to materialise this season, this course profile suits her abilities well if she wants to go on the attack, and it would be no surprise if she reignites her form in Navarra.
At Human Powered Health, there’s real momentum building. Giada Borghesi arrives on the back of two excellent rides in Brittany last weekend – 3rd at La Classique Morbihan and 9th at GP Morbihan – highlighting the form that’s made her a consistent presence near the front this spring. Yurani Blanco Calbet is a rider who often hits her stride around this time of year, and while she’s had a quiet start to 2025, her strength over hilly courses makes her a natural fit for Navarra. Ruth Edwards brings a proven pedigree to the line-up too. She was 2nd here in 2021 and remains capable of pushing into the top-10 again if the race turns attritional. Barbara Malcotti, fresh off a 4th place at GP Chambéry, rounds out a well-balanced team with multiple options depending on how the race unfolds.
Navarra Elite Classics 2025 Outsiders
Karolina Perekitko has been edging closer to a breakout result this season, and Winspace Orange Seal will be hoping it comes here. The Polish rider finished 3rd at the Région Pays de la Loire Tour and has been regularly in the mix in smaller French races. She climbs well, handles rolling terrain with ease, and if she’s near the front in the final, a top-10 or even podium could be within reach.
There’s a lot to like about what Team Coop-Repsol is building around Stina Kagevi. At just 19 years old, the Swede already showed promise with a 21st in GC at La Vuelta Femenina – an impressive result given the depth of competition. While she’s still learning how to navigate one-day races at this level, the longer climbs and challenging terrain in Navarra should suit her strengths. With smart positioning and patience, she might be one of the more interesting names to emerge from this year’s edition.
Massi Baix Ter’s Karin Söderqvist could be another name to watch closely. She’s put together a solid run of form this spring, placing 8th overall at Gracia Orlová and backing that up with another 8th at GP Chambéry. Her strength lies in endurance and consistency – the exact attributes required to be a factor in the closing kilometres of a race like this. A selective group finish could play to her advantage.
Few riders know how to handle the Navarra course quite like Tamara Dronova. The Russian has been a regular presence in this race’s decisive moves, finishing 2nd in 2023, 6th in 2022 and 12th last year. That level of consistency commands attention, even if her 2025 campaign hasn’t fully taken off yet, as she’s only placed inside the top-10 once in European racing so far. Still, this is a race she clearly targets, and if she finds even a fraction of her past form, Roland will have a major player in the finale.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Letizia Borghesi
⦿ Monica Trinca Colonel
⦿ Paula Blasi
