Double Victory for Tirol Women Cycling: Wins in Graz and Wels Extend Radbundesliga Lead

Jul 30
2 min read

Tirol Women Cycling delivered an outstanding weekend at the Austrian Cycling League (RCL), claiming victories at the Graz Old Town Criterium on July 28 and the Wels City Criterium on July 29. The team's goal was clear: defend the overall RCL lead and further increase its advantage—and that objective was achieved in impressive fashion.

Graz Old Town Criterium – A Tactical Masterclass

Representing Tirol Women Cycling were Franziska Ehrenreich, Belinda Holzer, Ramona Grießer, Tabea Huys, Liv Wenzel, Nela Kankovska, and Jennifer Pesendorfer. The challenging 900-meter circuit through the historic streets of Graz had to be completed 35 times. With its narrow alleys, sharp corners, and a short climb, the course demanded excellent bike handling and constant concentration.

From the very beginning, Tirol Women Cycling adopted an aggressive racing strategy. The pace was driven so hard during the opening laps that the race split almost immediately, creating the decisive selection. A breakaway group of 14 riders formed early and remained clear until the finish.

Within the leading group, Tirol Women Cycling controlled the race through relentless attacking and excellent teamwork. In the closing laps, Tabea Huys launched a perfectly timed final attack before powering to a convincing sprint victory, crossing the finish line with a clear advantage.

Unfortunately, Ramona Grießer was forced to abandon the race due to a mechanical problem. Nevertheless, the team delivered another outstanding collective performance. Belinda Holzer finished fifth, while Franziska Ehrenreich crossed the line in sixth place. These results allowed Tirol Women Cycling to extend its lead in the Austrian Cycling League and strengthen its position in the team classification.

Wels City Criterium – Liv Wenzel Wins Dramatic Photo Finish

Just one day later, the team lined up again for the Wels City Criterium. This time, the course was completely different—a fast and flat circuit featuring four corners per lap. Over 30 laps, eight intermediate prime sprints made the race both tactical and exciting from start to finish.

Unfortunately, the race was marked by several crashes. Two Tirol Women Cycling riders, including reigning Austrian Criterium Champion Belinda Holzer, were involved in incidents. Thankfully, neither suffered serious injuries, and both were able to continue racing while supporting their teammates until the finish.

With five laps remaining, Liv Wenzel claimed an important intermediate sprint before launching the decisive move together with Sophie Walcher. The pair quickly built a five-second advantage over the chasing field, setting up a thrilling two-rider sprint for victory.

The finish could hardly have been closer. After an exciting photo finish, Liv Wenzel was declared the winner by only a few centimeters, securing Tirol Women Cycling's second victory in as many days.

Franziska Ehrenreich added another strong result with fourth place, while Belinda Holzer fought back from her crash to finish fifth.

Teamwork Makes the Difference

With victories by Tabea Huys in Graz and Liv Wenzel in Wels, combined with several additional top-five finishes, Tirol Women Cycling once again demonstrated the strength and depth of the entire squad. Outstanding teamwork, aggressive racing tactics, and unwavering commitment to one another proved to be the key ingredients for a highly successful weekend.

These performances enabled Tirol Women Cycling to further extend its lead in the Austrian Cycling League and strengthen its position in the overall team standings.