Spain 12 Feb – 15 Feb 2026 Class W2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website https://setmanaciclista.com/
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The Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana 2026 marks a major milestone as the 10th anniversary of the race. This edition solidifies its reputation as the definitive early-season test for the world’s elite women’s peloton, featuring 13 of the 14 UCI Women’s WorldTeams.
The 2026 race takes place from February 12 to February 15, covering a total of 481.5 kilometers across four diverse stages.
🗺️ 2026 Route & Stages
The route is designed to be balanced, offering opportunities for sprinters in the first half before the climbers take center stage in the rugged Valencian interior.
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type |
| 1 | Feb 12 | Gandia — Gandia | 121 km | Flat/Sprints |
| 2 | Feb 13 | Vila-real — Vila-real | 115.5 km | Undulating |
| 3 | Feb 14 | Agost — La Nucía | 128 km | Mountain/Queen Stage |
| 4 | Feb 15 | Sagunt — Valencia | 117 km | Hilly/Final showdown |
- Stage 1 (Gandia): Historically a stage for the fast finishers, though the coastal winds can occasionally split the peloton.
- Stage 3 (The Queen Stage): This is the decisive day for the General Classification (GC). With significant elevation gain between Agost and La Nucía, it’s where the pure climbers like Vollering or Realini are expected to make their move.
- Stage 4 (Valencia Finish): The race concludes in the heart of Valencia, finishing near the Palau de Congressos.
🌟 Key Contenders
The 2026 start list is one of the strongest in the race’s history, featuring a mix of seasoned legends and rising stars:
- Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez): The 2025 champion returns as the overwhelming favorite to defend her title.
- Liane Lippert (Movistar Team): Always a threat on Spanish soil, Lippert leads the home team’s hopes for a GC podium.
- Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek): The sprint queen will be looking to add to her record of stage wins in Gandia and Vila-real.
- Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team): The teenage sensation and 2024 Junior World Champion makes one of her most anticipated professional starts.
- Anna van der Breggen: Continuing her comeback into the 2026 season, her tactical brilliance remains a wildcard for the peloton.
🏆 Current Status
As of today, Wednesday, February 11, the teams have completed their final reconnaissance rides. The race officially kicks off tomorrow in Gandia.
🏆 The favorite
Demi Vollering is widely considered one of the most complete and dominant forces in modern women’s cycling. Her ability to transition from crushing mountain summits to winning technical time trials makes her a perennial favorite in almost every race she enters.
Here is a deeper look at her career and profile:
Career Profile: Demi Vollering
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Demi Vollering |
| Date of Birth | November 15, 1996 |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Current Team | FDJ-SUEZ (as of 2025/2026) |
| Professional Victories | 55+ UCI Wins |
Key Strengths & Riding Style
Vollering is a rare “all-rounder” who excels when the terrain gets tough. Unlike specialized sprinters or pure climbers, she possesses a massive engine that allows her to compete across different disciplines:
- General Classification (GC): Her recovery over multiple days and climbing consistency make her a Grand Tour specialist.
- The “Ardennes” Queen: She is famous for her punchy attacks on short, steep hills, famously winning all three Ardennes Classics (Amstel Gold, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège) in a single season (2023).
- Time Trialing: She has evolved into one of the world’s best against the clock, often using the TT to seal overall victories in stage races.
Major Career Highlights
- Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Winner of the 2023 Yellow Jersey and runner-up in a nail-biting 2024 edition.
- UCI Women’s WorldTour: Winner of the overall season rankings in 2023.
- Classic Victories: Multiple wins at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Strade Bianche, and Tour of Flanders.
Recent Move to FDJ-SUEZ
After spending several highly successful years at Team SD Worx-Protime, her move to the French outfit FDJ-SUEZ marks a significant new chapter. As the clear leader of the team, the focus is squarely on reclaiming the Tour de France Femmes title and continuing her rivalry with other top stars like Lotte Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini.
Fun Fact: Before becoming a full-time pro cyclist, Demi had a background in figure skating, which many credit for her exceptional balance and bike-handling skills on descents.
Demi Vollering is the clear favorite for the 2026 Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.
The race, which runs from February 12th to 15th, 2026, serves as her season debut. As the defending champion (having won the 2025 edition with a dominant performance), she enters the race as the top-rated contender for the General Classification (GC).
Why she is the favorite:
- Defending Champion: She won the 2025 edition with a solo attack on the very first stage, proving she can dominate this specific terrain.
- The Route: The 2026 course features two significant mountain stages (specifically Stage 3 from Agost to La Nucia), which perfectly suits her climbing prowess.
- Team Strength: Her team, FDJ-SUEZ, has surrounded her with a powerhouse squad including Elise Chabbey and Évita Muzic, both of whom are elite climbers capable of controlling the race.
Primary Rivals to Watch:
While Vollering is the “woman to beat,” several other riders are expected to challenge her:
- Liane Lippert (Movistar): Often strong in early-season Spanish races and excels on hilly terrain.
- Antonia Niedermaier (CANYON//SRAM): A young, elite climber and time-trialist who can put Vollering under pressure on the long ascents.
- Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly): A rising star in stage races who showed great form throughout 2025.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de la Comunitat Valenciana is a premier professional women’s road cycling stage race held annually in the Valencian Community, Spain. Since its inception in 2017, it has rapidly grown from a local initiative to one of the most prestigious early-season races on the international calendar.
🚴 Origins and Evolution
The race was founded in 2017 by the Club Ciclista Escapada. At the time, it filled a crucial gap in the women’s cycling calendar, providing a high-level stage race in Spain following the demise of several older events.
- Initial Classification: It debuted as a UCI 2.2 category race.
- Promotion: Due to its high organizational standards and the quality of the peloton it attracted, it was upgraded to 2.1 and eventually to 2.Pro status (UCI ProSeries) in 2023.
- A Decade of Growth: As of 2026, the race is celebrating its 10th anniversary, cementing its status as a vital “curtain-raiser” for the professional women’s season.
🏆 Hall of Fame
The race has been dominated by some of the greatest names in the sport. The challenging Mediterranean terrain, often featuring steep climbs like the iconic Xorret de Catí, ensures that only the strongest all-rounders win the general classification.
| Year | Winner | Notable Achievement |
| 2017 | Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig | The inaugural winner. |
| 2018 | Hannah Barnes | A breakthrough victory for the British rider. |
| 2019 | Clara Koppenburg | Won after a dominant performance on Xorret de Catí. |
| 2021–22 | Annemiek van Vleuten | The only rider to win the overall title twice. |
| 2023 | Justine Ghekiere | A surprise victory that showcased the race’s unpredictability. |
| 2024 | Marlen Reusser | Displayed incredible time-trialing and climbing prowess. |
| 2025 | Demi Vollering | Won the 9th edition in her debut for FDJ-Suez. |
📍 Race Characteristics
The “Setmana” (Valencian for Week) typically consists of four stages. Its history is defined by its diverse geography:
Regional Pride: The race travels through all three provinces of the Valencian Community (Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante), often finishing its final stage in the city of Valencia near the Palau de Congressos.
Stage Variety: It usually features a mix of flat finishes for sprinters (like Elisa Balsamo, who holds the record for most stage wins) and brutal mountain stages that decide the overall leader.
Early Season Importance: Held in mid-February, it serves as the first major test for WorldTour teams. In 2025, it notably marked the brief return to competition of legend Anna van der Breggen.
