The third day of racing at Gracia Orlová featured a double stage format, starting with a decisive 13.5km individual time trial in Havířov and concluding with a flat 92.4km circuit race in Bohumín. Switzerland’s Jasmin Liechti won the morning test against the clock, while Marion Norbert Riberolle took her first UCI road win in the afternoon sprint. Alison Jackson placed well in both stages and ended the day in the leader’s jersey by a margin of just one second.
Stage 3: Liechti powers to time trial win in Havířov
The day opened with a flat and fast time trial, largely free of technical turns aside from a key hairpin midway through. Liechti, the U23 Swiss time trial champion, posted the fastest time with an average speed near 46 km/h. She stopped the clock four seconds faster than Karolina Kumiega and six seconds ahead of Christina Bragh Lorenzen, confirming her time trial form after a quiet start to the week.
Alison Jackson placed fifth at 15 seconds, but it was enough to see her move into the overall lead as Belgian rider Marieke Meert faltered badly, losing over a minute and slipping out of the top ten. Lore De Schepper, leading the mountain classification, also struggled and fell to 19th overall after conceding 1:20.
At the halfway point of the race, Liechti and Jackson were tied on time, with Kumiega only four seconds behind. Everyone else was over 20 seconds back, with former podium contender Caroline Andersson falling to fourth overall.
2025 Gracia Orlová Stage 3 result
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Photo Credit: Gracia OrlovaStage 4: Riberolle surprises in Bohumín bunch sprint
The afternoon circuit stage covered six laps of a 15.4km course, flat but exposed, with weather expected to play a role. Rain fell lightly, but it was the wind that threatened most, though it never became disruptive enough to break the race apart.
All eyes were on the intermediate sprint at the end of lap two, offering bonus seconds that could alter the general classification. Karolina Kumiega crossed first, followed by Jackson and Liechti, tightening the GC battle further. Jackson’s second place added two seconds to her tally, giving her a one-second advantage over Liechti and three over Kumiega.
Breakaway attempts followed, with Karoline Goldschmidt going solo on lap three, gaining around 25 seconds. Julie Emilie Maribo and Marielle Trouwborst joined in the chase but were quickly reeled in. EF Education-Oatly took control of the peloton, riding for their 19-year-old sprinter Alex Volstad and shutting down the move heading into the final lap.
In the final straight, it was Marion Norbert Riberolle who surged past the favourites to take her first ever UCI road victory. Known for her cyclocross pedigree, the Belgian national champion delivered a powerful sprint that left Volstad settling for second, with Florien Bolks in third. Kumiega was fifth, and Olga Wankiewicz came through in seventh.
Zemanová was again the best-placed Czech rider in tenth, while Barbora Němcová held her position as best overall Czech rider in 15th on GC.
EF Education-Oatly had reason to celebrate despite missing the stage win. Jackson’s consistency throughout the day ensured she pulled on both the yellow and green jerseys by the end of stage 4. De Schepper, despite fading in the time trial, kept hold of the QOM jersey and was again named the most active rider.
2025 Gracia Orlová Stage 4 result
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Main photo credit: Nexetis
