Sportland NÖ Women’s Tour 2026: Strong Team Performance in Extreme Heat

Jun 29
2 min read

From 22 to 25 May, the Tirol Women Cycling Team competed in the Sportland NÖ Women’s Tour. Four demanding stages, high temperatures, and strong winds made for a challenging race, but the team delivered an impressive collective performance with several top results.

Stage 1 – Illmitz: Crosswinds Shape the Race

The opening stage took place in Illmitz, Burgenland, on the course of the 2025 Austrian National Championships. Extremely hot conditions and strong crosswinds split the peloton early on, with a decisive breakaway forming in the crosswinds. Unfortunately, none of our riders made it into this front group. Despite several determined chase efforts, the gap could not be closed.

Liv Wenzel, racing with the Luxembourg National Team, delivered an outstanding performance to finish 2nd, taking the lead in the U23 classification.

Stage 2 – Herzogenburg: Fighting Through the Heat

The second stage in Herzogenburg once again tested the riders with scorching temperatures. The fast and rolling circuit kept the pace high throughout the race, but all of our riders remained in the front group until the final lap.

In the finish, Amalie Cooper sprinted to an excellent 5th place, while Liv Wenzel crossed the line in 7th, moving into the overall race lead.

Stage 3 – Amstetten: Another Top-10 Finish

Stage three was held on the well-known circuit in Amstetten. The combination of intense heat and a high racing speed made for another demanding day. The final sprint was particularly hectic, with several crashes occurring in the finishing straight.

Amalie Cooper once again demonstrated her strong form by securing 6th place, earning another top-10 result. Liv Wenzel successfully defended her lead in the general classification and started the final stage wearing the leader’s jersey.

Stage 4 – Hochkar: Teamwork Until the Finish

The final stage took the riders from Ybbsitz to the summit of Hochkar, where a challenging mountain finish awaited.

Thanks to excellent teamwork, our riders were able to respond to every attack throughout the race. Once the final climb began, each rider settled into her own pace and gave everything until the finish.

Amalie Cooper finished in 7th place, while Belinda Holzer delivered another outstanding ride to claim 8th place on the stage.

Strong Overall Results

The Tirol Women Cycling Team also celebrated excellent results in the overall classifications:

5th Overall: Liv Wenzel
13th Overall: Amalie Cooper
14th Overall: Belinda Holzer
2nd Best Austrian Rider: Belinda Holzer
4th in the Points Classification: Liv Wenzel

The Sportland NÖ Women’s Tour was characterized by extreme temperatures, demanding stages, and a highly competitive international field. Our riders consistently delivered strong performances throughout all four stages, demonstrating determination, resilience, and excellent teamwork. With multiple top-10 finishes and impressive results in the overall classifications, the Tirol Women Cycling Team can look back on a very successful edition of the race.