Ashleigh triumphs in the Queens of the Alhambra cycling criterium

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio of AG Insurance - Soudal Quick-Step shone in the Queens of the Alhambra cycling criterium organized by Relevo, in the first Sunday of the month. The event, featuring a peloton of 40 international riders, boasted prominent names at the start line, and made for a great day of racing.

Our rider clinched the overall victory after three challenging races on the 1.5 kilometer route along Gran Vía de Colón. The first event, a scratch race, determined the winner based on who crossed the finish line first. In the elimination, the second race, the last two riders in each round were eliminated, leading to a sprint between the final two for the victory. The third challenge was the grand finale, exclusively featuring the top ten from the combined standings of the previous rounds, competing for the ultimate victory in a second, shorter, and more intense scratch race.

Queens of the Alhambra, the first women's cycling criterium in Spain, stands as a historic milestone fostering the global growth and popularity of women's cycling. This remarkable victory adds another accolade to Ashleigh Moolman Pasio's impressive cycling career, which includes last year's victories, such as a stage at the Setmana Ciclista-Volta Comunitat Valenciana Fèmines, the Durango - Durango Emakumeen Saria, and a stage win in the CIC-Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées.

"I had a fantastic experience racing at Alhambra in Granada. It's wonderful to witness the growing support for women's cycling and the emergence of new events that shine a spotlight on women's racing. Coming to a new location and exploring uncharted territory added to the excitement. The bustling weekend in Granada brought enthusiastic crowds, creating a new fanbase drawn to the city center races. The three events, starting with a scratch race, followed by an elimination race, and concluding with the final featuring the top 10 riders, showcased the diversity of challenges”, a delighted Ashleigh explained.

“Winning the first scratch race was a highlight for me; I felt strong and managed to outsprint Sara Martin for the victory, securing an automatic qualification for the final. In the elimination race, I focused on staying warm and ready for the intense final. The last race was short and fast, with a powerful performance from Martin, who went solo. Despite our efforts to chase her down, she outpaced me in the sprint, resulting in a third-place finish.”

"After solid base training, it's gratifying to discover that I still have some speed. I eagerly anticipate the upcoming training camp with the team in a week’s time", concluded Ashleigh.