Alison Jackson delivered her first win of the 2025 season on Stage 2 of Gracia Orlová, outsprinting Marieke Meert and Caroline Andersson from a reduced front group at the end of a mountainous 124.4km stage based around Lichnov. The Canadian timed her effort perfectly after a selective day of racing to move within eight seconds of the race lead.
It was a reminder of the speed and timing that saw Jackson win Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2023. She came into this week with a top five in this year’s edition and seventh at the Amstel Gold Race already under her belt. Gracia Orlová may not have the same prestige, but the 2.2-level Czech stage race gave her a valuable opportunity to race for herself and take a confidence-boosting result.
Friday’s queen stage featured nearly 2000 metres of climbing, including two classified climbs at Pustevny and Bumbálka. Despite the terrain, the peloton remained largely intact early on, with Jackson taking maximum points in the first intermediate sprint at Frenštát. The pace only lifted properly near the summit of Pustevny, where Lore De Schepper tightened her grip on the mountains jersey.
The descent shattered the bunch into smaller groups, and a lead group of 14 riders formed over the top. Czech rider Barbora Němcová made the selection for Dukla Praha, joined by names including Karoline Goldschmidt, Caroline Andersson, Lore De Schepper, Malwina Mul and Marieke Meert. With EF Education-Oatly missing the move, Jackson and her teammates had to chase from behind.
They got back on through a long flat run into Vsetín, reforming a larger peloton of 57 riders ahead of the final climbs. It was here that De Schepper again made her presence felt, taking more points on Dušná and Pindula. With no more mountain points left in the race, she will wear the polka-dot jersey through to Orlová if she finishes.
The final 20 kilometres were rapid. A solo move from one of the Swedish riders was brought back quickly, and the final approach into Lichnov came down to positioning. With around 30 riders in contention, Jackson launched her sprint with enough speed to hold off Meert and Andersson, with Czech rider Kristýna Zemanová taking eighth and Němcová 12th.
Jackson collected time bonuses from the sprint and finish line, taking 13 seconds off her GC time to leap into joint-second overall. She now trails Meert by just eight seconds, the same time gap as Andersson. Mul dropped to fourth at 11 seconds, while Němcová sits 13th at 30 seconds.
Meert still leads the overall, points and activity classifications, while De Schepper leads both the QOM and combativity standings. Belgium’s grip on the leader’s jerseys remains firm, but Saturday’s split stage is likely to test it. The day begins with a 13.5km individual time trial in Havířov before a 92.4km circuit race in Bohumín later in the afternoon.
2025 Gracia Orlovà Stage 2 result
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