The fourth and final stage of the Setmana Ciclista-Volta Comunitat Valenciana Fèmines was another hard stage. Katia Ragusa tried to bring home the polka dot jersey and was involved in a large breakaway.
Ragusa had a minimum lead in the mountain classification, so it was a big fight for the breakaway in order to be in the front to get the points for the polka dot jersey. On the first climb Ragusa took three points, but her opponent Justine Ghekiere took four and brought the total at 18 points for both riders. They were involved in a large breakaway group which took two minutes advantage on the peloton. In the hard final part of the race Ragusa had to let go the group. Ghekeire held on and took the maximum points at both resuming climbs to conquer the polka dot jersey.
“I tried to keep the jersey today, that`s why I jumped in the day`s breakaway. My opponent Ghekeire was also there and turned out to be the strongest today. She also won the overall classification, so it is no shame too lose the jersey to her. It was nice to wear the jersey all these days. It gives me a confident feeling at the start of the season. There is still a lot of work to do, but it is a good start”, Ragusa commented afterwards.
Ghekeire and Elise Uijen were the two riders who stayed away. Uijen won the final stage, Ghekeire took the overall classification. In the group behind the leading duo Mavi Garcia finished in eight place, securing a top-10 place in the overall classification. The Spanish champion was ninth in the final ranking. “Today I had a better feeling then yesterday. I could follow easily and that was nice after yesterday didn`t work out as I wanted. Now I travel with some confidence to the next races”, Garcia closed the story in Spain.