Justine Ghekiere overall winner Setmana Valenciana

Justine Ghekiere has won the overall classification of the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana. In a breathtaking final the Belgian rider stayed clear with Elise Uijen of DSM. They sprinted for the stage win. Uijen won the stage with Justine in second place. Justine took six bonus seconds and needed the peloton to finish at 15 seconds to win the overall classification.

The peloton crossed the line at 16 seconds meaning Justine takes her first pro win at the prestigious four-day stage race in Spain that was won by Annemiek van Vleuten the previous two editions. Ashleigh Moolman Pasio finished seventh on the day meaning she is second in the general classification. It was a surprising but amazing outcome of four days of racing.

“I just don’t know what to say. I have no words and don’t really realize what happened,” said a stunned Justine after the finish. “I wanted to go for that polka dot jersey and was only second behind the leader in that classification. It was all or nothing today and I succeeded in my goal. Then I found myself in that breakaway and held on to Gaia Realini and Elise Uijen on the final climb.

It’s a shame I didn’t win that sprint for the stage win but by then I knew I had won the mountain classification. I was already really happy about that until I realized I had won the general classification too. This team is fantastic and I feel so good. Everyone believes in each other and works for each other. It was not great I took the win away from Ashleigh but we keep it in the team. We did it!”

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio hadn’t taken into account that her teammate would become the overall winner and not her direct rivals Amanda Spratt and Annemiek van Vleuten but the South African rider couldn’t be happier to join Justine on the podium as runner-up in the GC.

“I didn’t lose but the team won the race,” says Ashleigh after the finish. “I am super happy for Justine. I am still speechless. What an incredible start to the season. This team is just so special. That really is all I can say. It was a tactical master class. We are such a power team. We are so united and so strong together. It was incredible seeing Justine take her first pro win. This is only the start of a great season.”

The race in Spain was the first on European soil for AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step. With three second places on stages 1, 2 and 4 by Lotta Henttala and Justine Ghekiere, victory on the queen stage by Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, the mountain classification for Justine and a 1-2 in the general classification for Justine and Ashleigh, it’s safe to say it was a great start for the team.

“The team followed the plan every day to perfection,” says sports director Jolien D’hoore. “We would allow a breakaway to go today but not with riders from the top 20 of the overall classification. Ideally it would be Justine in a breakaway because of the mountain classification and so it happened. I am just so proud of these riders and the staff here. I am really looking forward to more.”