Spain’s Paula Ostiz more than lived up to her status as favourite in the junior women’s World Championships road race with a finely timed sprint for the line that clinched the 18-year-old the win ahead of Chantal Pegolo (Italy) and Anja Grossman (Switzerland).
The silver medallist in the same event in 2024, and the silver medallist, too, in the 2025 junior women’s time trial just a few days back, up until the closing metres Ostiz opted to play things conservatively, largely staying on the wheels all the way through a closely fought, tactical 74-kilometre race.
It was only when a group of five broke away on the last ascent of the Côte de Kimihurara that Ostiz made sure she was in the move, but even then, Ostiz let her rivals do the brunt of the work.
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“It’s a dream come true,” Ostiz said afterwards, “I can’t find the words, my family are watching me right now, all the team and the country, and I just have to thank them all. I just have to thank them all.”
(Image credit: Getty Images)How it unfolded
With Switzerland, Canada and Australia amongst those pulling a 66-strong pack through the first of five laps of the Kigali circuit, one of the first notable attacks came from Antonie Ermanová (Czech Republic). But the move that really threatened to set the cat amongst the pigeons was another solo charge away, this time by Spain’s Leyre Almena, 43 kilometres from the line.
A bronze medallist in the Nationals earlier this year, initially it was unclear if her move was a challenge in its own right or setting things up for leading favourite and teammate, Ostiz. What was certain, in any case, was with Ostiz controlling affairs in the peloton, Almena had no problem rapidly opening up a gap of nearly 40 seconds – and simultaneously forcing Spain’s rivals behind to work.
The bunch early on in the race (Image credit: Getty Images)
Her margin dropped rapidly on the Côte de Kigali Golf and having ballooned back up to nearly 30 on the flatter and downhill sections that followed, Almena finally threw in the towel on the ever-daunting ascent of Côte de Kimihurara. With two full laps remaining the bunch remained grouped together, only for Great Britain and Spain to push things up a notch on the undulating highway that followed.
Despite the rise in pace, the race remained essentially one of attrition, with less than 25 riders remaining in the peloton remaining with 31 kilometres to go, and only 15 as the event came down to the last 16 kilometres. Off the front, though, there were no further attacks following Almena’s effort and that drop in pressure allowed the main group to nearly double in size just after they went across the finish line for the last time.
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Winner Paula Ostiz during the junior women’s road race (Image credit: Getty Images)
A bold attempt to break open the ultra-cagey event came courtesy of Roos Muller (Netherlands), searing out of the lefthand side of the pack and briefly drawing a response from Karolina Špicarová (Czech Republic). The Canadians attempted to clamp that one down, but Muller was having none of it, attacking again at 11 kilometres to go, only for her move to fizzle out, and the peloton to gain yet more delayed riders for the final assaults on the last two climbs of the race.
Great Britain took up a nominal position of control at the front, along with the USA, meaning the peloton swept onto the Côte de Kigali Golf all together. Spain nominally opened up hostilities just where the climb eased down from 13%, yet as they were not wanting to play their trump card of Ostiz too soon, the watching and waiting game then continued deep into the rolling terrain after its summit.
A crunch moment of the race as Grossman (L), Ostiz (C) and Swierenga (R) pull the late break clear (Image credit: Getty Images)
Greece’s sole representative, Eirini Papadimitriou, made an abrupt dig to take the peloton by surprise with five kilometres to go, but Great Britain were having none of it, forcing a regrouping as the finale approached. Ostiz made a short appearance as they took the lefthand bend onto the Côte de Kimihurara then suddenly, as the punishing cobbled climb took its toll, just five riders remained on the front. This incuded the Spaniard, but also Grossman, Sidney Swierenga (Canada), Pegolo and her Italian teammate Giada Silo.
The USA’s impetus was then continued by Grossman for Switzerland, and Swierenga did her utmost to try to surprise the rest, with Ostiz only moving to the fore in the last 500 metres. Parts of the scattered pack were beginning to close the gap as the gantry approached, but their late comeback looked more ominous than it felt for Spain’s chances, as Ostiz timed her move perfectly and went from distance, blasting across the line nearly three bike lengths ahead of Pergolo.
Ostiz’ breathtaking show of sprint strength bodes very well both for her present and future career. But the Spanish team’s tactics, keeping Ostiz in contention while never putting too much pressure on the front group, also played a significant part in setting their star rider up for her biggest win to date.
Paula Ostiz (Spain) celebrates the win (Image credit: Getty Images)Results
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