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Netherlands 24 Jul – 26 Jul 2026 Class 2.Ncup – Stages – UCI Class Nations’ Cup
Website www.watersley.com
Nations Cup WJ Watersley du 24 au 26 juillet 2026
The women of Team Lëtzebuerg will take part in the WJ Watersley Nations Cup from 24 to 26 July 2026
| Team Dames | LOPES Elena, BINTZ Kylie, BREUER Amy (R) |
| Technical Support Staff | ZINGERLE Sophia (coach), BACHL Philipp, HERMANN Smeets |
| Infos: | https://sportsandtalentpark-watersley.com/event/junior-and-ladies-challenge/ |
Here is the stage schedule and program for the Watersley Ladies Challenge 2.Ncup Juniors 2026 held in Sittard, Netherlands:
🚴 Race Schedule & Program
The event is a three-stage UCI Women Junior Nations’ Cup competition held across the hilly terrain of Limburg.
Pre-Race Activities
- Location: Watersley Sports & Talentpark (Watersley 31, 6132 KA, Sittard)
- License Check & Registration: 18:00 – 18:45
- Team Managers Meeting: 19:00
Stage 1: Individual Time Trial (ITT)
Key Highlight: Short, explosive ITT to set the early General Classification (GC) standings.
- Start: 11:00
- Course: Munstergeleen to Watersley
- Distance: 6.4 km
- Bike Pre-Check: 09:00 – 10:45
Stage 2: Road Race
Key Highlight: Demanding hilly circuit starting and finishing at the Watersley Sports & Talentpark. Includes intermediate sprints with bonus seconds for GC contenders.
- Start: 10:30 (or 12:30 depending on final start list roll-out)
- Course: Watersley to Watersley
- Distance: 88.2 km
- Elevation Gain: ~707 m
Stage 3: Road Race
Key Highlight: Final decisive stage through technical, hilly terrain to finalize the jersey classifications.
- Start: 10:30 (or 11:00)
- Course: Watersley to Watersley
- Distance: 82.1 km to 85.1 km (excluding ~3.4 km neutralization)
🏆 Additional Details
Classifications: General Classification (Yellow/Individual), Youth, Points/Sprint Classification, and Mountain/Climbing Classification.
Podium Ceremonies: Held 15 minutes after the end of each stage at the finish location.
Here are the top results from Stage 1 (Individual Time Trial) of the Watersley Ladies Challenge 2026 (UCI 2.Ncup Women Juniors) held on July 24, 2026:
Stage 1 Results (Munstergeleen – Watersley, 6.4 km ITT)
Top 10 Stage & General Classification
- 1st Place: Liliana Edwards (USA / United States) – 8:50
- 2nd Place: Maria Okrucińska (POL / Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team) – +0:03
- 3rd Place: Maria Acuti (ITA / Italy) – +0:10
- 4th Place: Yana Decruyenaere (BEL / Belgium) – +0:11
- 5th Place: Alejandra Neira (ESP / Spain) – +0:18
- 6th Place: Neve Parslow (GBR / Vermarc Cycling Team) – +0:21
- 7th Place: Elena Lopes (LUX / MIX Luxembourg/Austria) – +0:23
- 8th Place: Linda Rapporti (ITA / Italy) – +0:26
- 9th Place: Linda Sítková (CZE / Czech Republic) – +0:27
- 10th Place: Karlijn Wijma (NED / Netherlands) – +0:27
Race Summary
- Leader’s Jersey: Liliana Edwards (United States) leads the overall general classification after averaging 43.47 km/h on the 6.4 km route.
Watersley Ladies Challenge 2.Ncup Juniors 2026 — Stage 2 Results
Stage Top Results:
| # | Rider | Nation / Team | Time / Gap |
| 1 | Maria Okrucińska | Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team | 2:48:13 |
| 2 | Maria Acuti | Italy | +0:02 |
| 3 | Evie Reijn | Netherlands | +0:02 |
| 4 | Lidia Castro | Spain | +0:02 |
| 5 | Eva Drhová | Czech Republic | +0:02 |
| 6 | Justine Baud | Vermarc Cycling Team | +0:02 |
| 7 | Amandine Jakob | France | +0:02 |
| 8 | Lise Revol | France | +0:02 |
| 9 | Noémie Martinet | France | +0:02 |
| 10 | Noemie Jurado Roumieux | France | +0:02 |
- Stage Winner: Maria Okrucińska (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team)
- General Classification Leader: Maria Okrucińska
Stage 2 result for the Luxembourgish rider competing in the Watersley Ladies Challenge 2.Ncup Juniors 2026:
Luxembourgish Rider Result (Stage 2)
- Elena Lopes (Riding for MIX Luxembourg/Austria)
- Stage Rank: 38th
- Time Gap: +0:23 behind the stage winner (Maria Okrucińska)
The Watersley Ladies Challenge 2.Ncup Juniors 2026 took place from July 24 to July 26, 2026 in the Netherlands.
General Classification (Final Overall Results)
- Winner: Maria Okrucińska (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team) — 5:20:58
- 2nd Place: Alejandra Neira (Spain) — +0:03
- 3rd Place: Maria Acuti (Italy) — +0:06
Elena Lopes (LUX) finished 22nd in the General Classification, and Kylie Bintz (LUX) is registered as a DNF (Did Not Finish)
Stage Breakdown
- Stage 1 (Individual Time Trial – 6.4 km): * Winner: Liliana Edwards (USA) — 8:50
- Stage 2 (Road Race – 88.2 km): * Winner: Maria Okrucińska (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team) — 2:48:13
- Stage 3 (Road Race – 85.1 km): * Winner: Alejandra Neira (Spain) — 2:23:48
The Watersley Ladies Challenge (2.Ncup Juniors) is one of the premier stage races on the international Junior Women’s road cycling calendar. Held in Sittard-Geleen, Limburg (Netherlands), the event serves as a critical proving ground for young cyclists aspiring to reach the elite Women’s WorldTour.
🚴 Origins & Growth
- Inaugural Edition (2018): Launched in 2018 by the Watersley Sports & Talentpark in partnership with local cycling organizers, the race was established to address a historic shortage of dedicated multi-day stage races for junior women. British rider Pfeiffer Georgi won the inaugural GC title.
- UCI Nations’ Cup Status: The race’s rapid success, steep course profiles, and high level of organization earned it inclusion in the UCI Junior Nations’ Cup. Under this ranking, riders compete for national teams rather than trade teams, giving it the prestige of a mini-World Championships.
🏆 Notable Champions & Stars
The race is famous for predicting future WorldTour stars. Previous overall winners include:
- 2018: Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
- 2019: Wilma Olausson (SWE)
- 2020: Marith Vanhove (BEL)
- 2021: Flora Perkins (GBR)
- 2022: Zoe Bäckstedt (GBR)
- 2023: Federica Venturelli (ITA)
- 2024 & 2025: Paula Ostiz (ESP) – First rider to win two general classification titles.
🚵 Race Format & Terrain
The event is held around the hilly, technical, and often wind-exposed terrain of Dutch Limburg, featuring:
- Individual Time Trial (ITT): A short, technical test against the clock.
- Hilly Circuit Stages: Punishing circuits around the Watersley estate and surrounding Limburg hills (similar to Amstel Gold Race terrain).
- Queen Stage: A demanding, selective final stage designed to decide the overall GC and mountain jersey classifications.
