European champion Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) opened her 2026 campaign by defending her Setmana Ciclista Valenciana title, taking two stage victories and the overall classification at the four-day race in Spain.
Vollering finished 1:02 ahead of Maeva Squiban (UAE Team ADQ) in the general classification and also secured the points competition jersey. The race was reduced to three stages after organisers cancelled Stage 3 due to dangerous wind gusts.
She established her overall lead on Stage 1, when she launched a solo attack on the Alt de Barx with a little over 20km remaining. She crossed the line 52 seconds clear of Squiban and kept her advantage through the rest of the race.
The cancellation of Stage 3 left Vollering with a 56-second advantage heading into Sunday's finale from Sagunt to Valencia.
On the 117km closing stage, FDJ United-SUEZ controlled the pace on the Category 2 Alt de l'Oronent, limiting attacks from behind. Squiban launched a move on the climb, but Vollering covered it and a five-rider group formed off the front. In the sprint finish in Valencia, Vollering beat Liane Lippert to take her second stage win of the week.
"I really enjoyed today's stage with a perfect team performance from my teammates," Vollering said on Instagram after the final stage. "So I couldn't do anything else but winning for them."
She credited her technical staff and mechanics for contributing to the result, writing that they had made her "fast bike faster than fast."
Vollering combined a solo climbing victory on Stage 1 with a sprint win from a reduced group on the final day. FDJ United-SUEZ controlled the pace on the closing stage while she carried her overall lead to the finish.
Vollering has now taken back-to-back overall titles at Setmana Valenciana. Her next scheduled race is Omloop Nieuwsblad on February 28.
Cover image (Vollering at La Vuelta Feminina 2025) by Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com
