Podium for Dominika Wlodarczyk. The Polish champion secured third place in the sprint that decided the Clasica de Almeria, after 133.1 km from Almería to Roquetas de Mar.
Tereza Neumanova finished fifth, ensuring a strong double top 5 for UAE Team ADQ and rewarding the team’s great collective effort.
The race was fast-paced and animated by numerous attacks, some of which were initiated by our riders. Febe Jooris showed great determination, followed by Wlodarczyk on the flat section. The entire team put in an excellent performance, including Emirati champion Safiya Alsayegh, who returned to racing in Europe after winning silver at the Asian Championships.
On the climb, FDJ – Suez set a high tempo and later worked with Uno-X to close the gap on the breakaway. The team’s strategy was clear: position Dominika and Tereza for the final sprint, and they executed it perfectly.
In the bunch sprint, New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston (FDJ – Suez) took the win ahead of Switzerland’s Linda Zanetti (Uno-X Mobility). Dominika Wlodarczyk claimed third place, with Tereza Neumanova finishing fifth, capping off a strong performance for UAE Team ADQ.
Dominika Wlodarczyk shared her excitement after her first European race of the season: “It was my first opportunity to race in Europe and also my first ride on the new Colnago Y1Rs. I had only one thought – what a fast bike! I felt amazing on it!” said the Polish champion.
The Clasica de Almeria also marked her first race alongside the young Development Team teammates, an experience she truly appreciated: “I was really pleased with their work and how they handled themselves in the peloton. After all, this is just the beginning of our journey together!”
Reflecting on the race strategy, Wlodarczyk explained: “We wanted to try different approaches, and while my attacks didn’t succeed in breaking up the peloton, we did manage to reduce the number of riders in it. In the final sprint, my goal was to help Tereza, but in the end, I was the one who finished third, with her crossing the line in fifth.”
A strong result that fuels her motivation for the next challenge: “It was a good race, and I can’t wait for the next one… Strade Bianche!“
(ph. @gettysport)
