Setmana Valenciana (Stage 1)
Annemiek -on the attack, one more year, at Alto de Barx- and Katrine Aalerud finish in the small first group in Gandía, where the world champion Balsamo (TFS) prevails.
Despite the attempts of Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), on her first day of competition in 2022, to break the peloton with her unmistakable style during the first day of the Setmana Valenciana -114 km between Tavernes de la Valldigna and Gandía-, a group of about thirty units ended up presenting themselves united at the finish line, with the world champion Balsamo (TFS) imposing her speed.
After a series of attacks on the slopes prior to Alto de Barx (2nd), one of which briefly featured Lourdes Oyarbide at the head of the race, Van Vleuten broke the peloton on the last ascent and took Cavalli (FDJ) with him and Garcia (ALE). The successive regroupings prevented, however, that neither ‘Miek’ nor Katrine Aalerud -who, like her partner, arrived in a short cut of 6 ″ behind the first part of the peloton- could get more out of the final offensive. .
Tomorrow, Friday, the Levantine round will experience a demanding second act with the passage through Confrides (1st) and an endless ‘up and down’ around Cocentaina, before the very tough queen day on Saturday at Alt Maestrat.