Double for ARKEA-B&B HOTELS

Race reportJun 8, 2025

Women TeamAlpes Grésivaudan

Valentina Cavallar won the Alpes Grésivaudan Classic at the summit of Collet d'Allevard ahead of team-mate Lotte Claes. The Austrian, a former Olympic rower, confirmed her mountain skills with her first professional victory.

Valentina Cavallar

I'm very happy with my race and this first victory in the professional ranks. I took part in it last year, almost as a debut for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team, when I came 4th in the Alpes Grésivaudan. I knew that the route of this event suited me because it's an event made for female climbers, with numerous climbs throughout the day. The whole ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team ran a perfect race throughout the day. We were up front and in control. Then Lotte attacked and got away with another competitor. She led the way for a long time, and in the final difficulties, I managed to break away from the pack. I took advantage of the climb to Collet d'Allevard to catch up with the leaders, Nadia Gontova and then Lotte. I won this race on my own. I can see how far I've come in the year I've been in the professional women's peloton. I was also delighted to score a one-two for the ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team with Lotte second in this race. I'll always remember this first professional success.

Gael Le Bellec

Directeur sportif

A double! You have to make the most of it when it happens to you! The ARKEA-B&B HOTELS team were favourites on paper, with Valentina Cavallar. We had to change the way we approached this event, because we often race at World Tour level, and we're not often labelled favourites. But the riders rose to the occasion, and I'd like to congratulate them all. They were enterprising and offensive, as when they decided to force the decision on the descent of the second col. The team was young, but it showed great maturity on the field. Danielle, Amandine and Maaijke positioned their leaders perfectly. When the race took shape in a small field of 14 girls, we still had Lotte, Valentina, Océane and Clémence in front. Lotte went out on the descent with Nadia Gontova. And in the Collet d'Allevard, Valentina went out alone. She put in a great performance, of a calibre we hadn't seen yet this year. She's going to win on the pedal. We didn't take the risk of her staying in the company of Lotte, because behind her there was the threat of Gontova. In the end, Lotte came second and, with Valentina, completed the double. It's a great collective performance, good work that's driving us forward to the next stage races.

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