Elisa Longo Borghini and Demi Vollering lead a host of challengers in Tre Valli Varesine Womens Race 2025
With the men’s sport increasingly tied up by one rider and one team it could seem to the casual observer that cycling is a foregone conclusion.
But that’s only half of the story. In women’s racing there is a refreshing feeling - one of far less inevitability. Though there are several individual power houses, victories are spread more evenly throughout the peloton.
Paula Blasi of UAE Team ADQ took a surprise win at the 2026 Amstel Gold Race, beating the pre race favourite Demi Vollering
Things looked very different only a few seasons ago. The domination of Team SD Worx and their unassailable lead in the UCI rankings was clear to see.
First rising to the top of the UCI World Rankings in 2016, the then named Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team became the team to beat for 4 seasons. Though the margins were not always wide. 2018 saw their closest challenger, Mitchelton Scott lose out to the Dutch team by less than 2 UCI points.
Then in 2020 they were finally overhauled by Trek-Segafredo in what seemed like a turning point. The hiatus didn’t last long, however. In 2021 the newly named Team SD Worx once again reached the summit of the team rankings and stayed there for 4 more seasons. In the 2023 and 2024 they clocked up an enormous 62 and 65 victories respectively. 2023 saw them amass 10,000 UCI points more than their closest rivals. The following year there was another huge gap of almost 7,000 points.
Demi Vollering launches her winning attack on the Mur de Huy. The victory would be her third of her Spring Classics campaign
But nothing lasts forever. Last season the gap was wiped out entirely with SD Worx falling to second place. The catalyst being the high profile defection of Demi Vollering from the Dutch super team to FDJ Suez. This helped elevate them 7 places in the rankings to finish above the European Champion’s former team. Vollering has taken her form into this season with wins at Ronde van Vlaanderen, La Flèche Wallonne Femmes and Liege - Bastogne - Liege this Spring, highlighting her considerable abilities across a range of terrain.
Other riders from the team have also been getting in on the act. Franziska Koch, took a surprise win at Paris-Roubaix 2026. The German Champion beating Marianne Vos in a sprint. Showing the team has strength in depth Elise Chabbey won Strade Bianche Donne and Célia Gery took victory at De Brabantse Pijl, bettering Mischa Bredewold in a sprint finish.
Célia Gery and Mischa Bredewold sprint for the line during the 2026 De Branbantse Pijl women’s race. Gery would go on to take the win ahead of the former European Champion
Another rising star, UAE Team ADQ, now seem to be in the process of attempting to mirror the successes of their men’s squad. The signing of the evergreen Elisa Longo Borghini has significantly elevated the team in the last year. Her GC win at the Giro d’Italia Women being a stand out moment that also included wins in 5 one day races and the Italian National Championships.
There has also been an upsurge of young talent in the squad. Paula Blasi’s unexpected win in Amstel Gold Race demonstrates the power they have in the making. Her performances since have underlined her potential at only 23 years old. Dutch rider Karlijn Swinkels finished top at Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittiglio, always an important race in the women’s calendar. She has also notched up a number of other podiums and top ten finishes over the season so far.
First photo: Puck Pieterse, at only 24 years old has already begun to establish herself in the Women’s World Tour Peloton - Second Photo: Kim Le Court Pienaar on her way to winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes in 2025
Elsewhere, Lidl - Trek have managed to maintained their position as an elite team despite the significant loses of both Longo Borghini and British former world champion Lizzie Deignan. The addition of Niamh Fisher-Black and Anna Henderson have helped to steady the ship and set the team up for a solid future.
Wins though, can, and do, come from anywhere. When Puck Pieterse powered to victory at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine last season it was her first triumph in a one day race in the Women’s World Tour. The previous season had seen her take a stage win in the Tour de France Femmes. At only 23 years old, she clearly has the ambition and skill to be challenging for more victories in future Classics.
Alison Jackson in 2023 at Paris Roubaix. The Canadian would go on to win the race
Even the World Championships wasn’t immune to this new reality as surprise winner Magdeleine Vallieres left everyone in her wake in the heat of Kigali. At only 24 years of age the Canadian surely has time on her side to prove it was no fluke and help elevate EF Education-Oatly to the next level.
After fellow Canadian, and Paris Roubaix winner, Alison Jackson’s unexpected move to St Michel - Preference Home - Auber93 the team has a new look. The rise of Noemi Rüegg, another 24 year old, may be one of the final pieces in the puzzle.
Franziska Koch takes a bend on Carrefour de l’Arbre at high speed on her way to victory
Showing that media coverage can often paint a different picture, Visma Lease a Bike - the team of Tour de France Femmes and Paris Roubaix winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot - actually dropped a place in the UCI rankings. Not a narrative born out in the many words written about these successes.
This was, at least in part, due to a dip in form for Marianne Vos after an excellent season in 2024. At 38 it seems that time may be catching up with the greatest rider of her generation. For Visma Lease a Bike the idea of being without the Dutchwoman must be one of the most difficult dilemmas in cycling.
Lorena Wiebes is undoubtably the rider to beat on certain terrain
Not that SD Worx are giving up without a fight. Lorena Wiebes has been formidable in sprints and is definitely the rider to beat on some parcour, but other riders and other teams are on the rise and snapping at her heels.
Team SD Worx - Protime could gain more traction with the return to form of Lotte Kopecky. 2025 was a frustrating year for the former World Champion after a winter injury damaged her pre-season preparations. Her glittering performance on the track winning 3 European titles in February and taking home three of Belgium’s four gold medals shows signs that she could be back to her best. Though she was confident of carrying this form into the Spring Classics, by her high standards this season’s results have been a mixed bag. Winning Milano-Sanremo Donne and Danilith Nokere Koerse in early March but coming up short of the podium in two races she would have targeted - Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris - Roubaix the following month.
Lotte Kopecky competes in wet weather during Ronde van Vlaanderen Vrouwen in 2024. A stand out year for both the rider and her team
At a pre season media day held by the team, Kopecky commented on her 2025 difficulties:
“I’m obviously not satisfied with last season, although I’ve had a lot of conversations about it. It wasn’t a great year and even though I know I still won the Tour of Flanders, the contrast with 2024 was too big. I’m proud that I won De Ronde again, but we have to accept the rest.”
“We’ll take the good things from 2025 with us, and that was De Ronde. Even in a very bad year, I was still able to win. An injury in the winter of last year was ultimately the biggest reason for my level. Last year I wasn’t even on the bike in December and I ultimately wasn’t good enough. That followed me for the entire season.”
Even with a rider of the stature of Kopecky returning to form it’s unlikely that SD Worx will have it all their own way for the remainder of this season. Whether they can reclaim their position at the top of the UCI rankings and dominate with race victories once more will be played out on the road. The race is truly on!
Jo Addie • 31st May 2026
