Alpes Grésivaudan Classic 1.1 – Strong Team Performance in the French Alps

Jun 29
2 min read

On 7 June 2026, the Tirol Women Cycling Team competed in the Alpes Grésivaudan Classic (UCI 1.1) near Grenoble, France, one of the most demanding one-day races of the season. Representing the team were Liv Wenzel, Linda Sanarini, Amalie Cooper, Franziska Ehrenreich, Ramona Griesser, and Belinda Holzer.

The riders faced a challenging course of 110 kilometres with approximately 3,500 metres of elevation gain. After only a short flat section, the race headed straight into the first major climb. The WorldTour teams set a very high pace from the beginning, taking control of the race on the opening ascent.

Our riders remained calm and stuck to their race plan, choosing to ride at their own pace in order to conserve energy for the demanding kilometres ahead. This strategy proved to be the right one, as they gradually caught and passed many riders throughout the race, eventually forming part of the second chasing group.

A key factor in the team's performance was the excellent cooperation with the Swiss Spar CTO Women’s Team, which allowed for seamless feeding throughout the race—an important advantage in the hot conditions and on such a demanding course.

On the final climb, however, the combination of the intense heat and the accumulated elevation took its toll. The chasing group gradually split apart, but Belinda Holzer and Amalie Cooper stayed together and fought all the way to the finish, crossing the line in 34th and 35th place, respectively.

Although a top result was out of reach on such a highly selective course, the Tirol Women Cycling Team delivered a strong collective performance, showing smart race management, resilience, and determination. It was particularly encouraging to see our riders move steadily through the field during the race, demonstrating their strong form against a highly competitive international UCI field.