Spain 12 Feb – 15 Feb 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
Website https://setmanaciclista.com/
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Born on August 3, 2001, in Kehlen, Nina Berton is a prominent professional cyclist from Luxembourg. Now 24 years old, she has established herself as a versatile competitor across road racing, cyclocross, and mountain biking.
🚴 Professional Profile
Berton currently competes for EF Education-Oatly (a UCI Women’s WorldTeam), having joined the squad in 2025. She is recognized for her aggressive racing style and her affinity for the “Spring Classics,” where she excels in challenging weather and difficult terrain.
- Role: All-rounder / Classics Specialist.
- Strengths: One-day races, hilly terrain, and breakaway efforts.
- Nicknames: Often referred to by the nickname “Noodles.”
🏆 Career Highlights & Palmarès
Berton has secured two UCI victories and several national titles during her ascent through the professional ranks.
National Success
She has been a dominant force in the Luxembourg National Championships, particularly in the youth categories:
- U23 National Champion: Road Race and Time Trial (2021, 2022).
- Junior National Champion: Road Race and Time Trial (2018, 2019).
- Elite Standing: Consistently on the podium at the Elite National Championships, including 2nd place finishes in both the Road Race and Time Trial in 2025.
Notable Results
- Gent-Wevelgem (2024): 15th place.
- Tour of Flanders (2024): 19th place.
- UAE Tour Women (2026): Recently finished 41st in the general classification.
- Multi-Discipline: She is also active in cyclocross, recently finishing 2nd at the 2026 Luxembourg National Cyclocross Championships.
📅 Team History
- 2025–Present: EF Education-Oatly
- 2023–2024: Ceratizit–WNT Pro Cycling
- 2021–2022: Andy Schleck–CP NVST–Immo Losch
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.
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.
