January 21/24 11:36 am - Vallieres Mill Takes First Pro Victory

Posted by Editoress on 01/21/24
 

Canadian Magdeleine Vallieres took her first pro victory at the Trofeo Palma Femina on Sunday, making it two victories in two days for her EF Education-Cannondale team.

"I am so happy. I feel like I'm going to wake up and it's just a dream," said Magdeleine.

The inaugural Trofeo Palma Femina featured a challenging course with four categorized climbs in the final 40 kilometres. With several teams setting a hard pace on the climb, the group was whittled down, but it was on the descent of the Coll Grau that the final selection was made.

Magdeleine came over the penultimate climb - the Coll de Sa Creu - in an elite group of riders. EF Education-Cannondale general manager Esra Tromp knew she was ready to go for it for it based on her recent form.

"Mags has been racing well already and yesterday, Emma Trott [team performance manager] texted me saying to watch out for Mags tomorrow," said EF Education-Cannondale general manager Esra Tromp.

As the riders began the descent, Magdeleine Vallieres was still there and looking strong. The descent down the Coll de Sa Creu was particularly twisty and technical and after a crash by Silvia Persico (UAE), Magdeleine moved to the front and quickly opened up a gap on the remaining riders in group one. There were eight kilometres to go. She flew down the mountain.

"Everyone worked so well and so hard together all day," said the young rider from Quebec. "It was my turn to be aggressive on the climbs and to try to read the race and see what I could do. I attacked a couple of times at the top of the climbs and then on the descent.I didn't know the descent so I just kept looking at the Wahoo and was like 'Okay, this looks straight, I can push' and then there would be a turn and I had to slam on the brakes. Everyone on the team was supporting each other so it was just so perfect."

Magdeleine railed corners all the way down the descent and as she started the final climb up to the finish at the Castell de Bellver she still couldn't see her chasers. When she got to the line, the young Quebecoise had time to celebrate and soak in her first pro win.

"I'm rooming with Noemi [Rüegg] and with her win yesterday she shined so much that it must have radiated on me for today and gave me some extra motivation," said Magdeleine.

Other Canadian results were Simone Boilard (Uno-X Mobility) in eighth, Adèle Normand (Eneicat - CMTeam) in 32nd and Alison Jackson (EF Education-Cannondale) in 45th. Canadians Olivia Baril (Movistar) and the riders of the Primeau Vélo - Group Abadie team did not finish.

With files from EF Education-Cannondale

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