Another amazing result for Vancouver’s Sidney Swierenga. The 19-year-old rider from Liv AlUla Jayco Women’s Continental Team finished third overall at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina, a race which had several heavy hitters—including Stage 3 winner Marianne Vos.
Vos took her first dub of the 2026 season on Sunday, using her powerful sprint to win the final stage of the three-day stage race. Swierenga finished safely in the bunch, keeping her third overall. Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) finished first in GC, followed by Célia Gery (FDJ United – SUEZ).
Stage 3 of Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina
The 112-km stage from Mataró featured an early climb of the Coll de Parpers before flattening out for what was expected to be a showdown between the race’s fastest finishers.
Four riders animated the race from the opening kilometers: Paula Ostiz, Oda Aune Gissinger, Natalie Revelo and Isabella Bertold.
The quartet built a lead of around 90 seconds, but the sprinters’ teams never allowed the gap to grow too large and steadily brought them back.
The finale
Ostiz and Gissinger were the final survivors from the break, but they were reeled in with four kilometres remaining, ensuring the stage would be decided in a bunch sprint.
Cofidis led into the final kilometre for Valentine Fortin, but Visma – Lease a Bike executed a perfectly timed lead-out. Vos burst clear in the closing metres to take the win. Her teammate Nienke Veenhoven completed a one-two finish for the Dutch squad. Nicole Steigenga rounded out the podium in third.
Swierenga’s 2026 season
“It was a really great day and all my teammates were super helpful and I couldn’t have done it without them,” Swierenga said. “I am so grateful to them.”
Her Canadian teammate, Anabelle Thomas, who worked hard for her, finished 57th overall. Other Canucks racing in Catalonia included Kiara Lylyk (Mayenne Monbana My Pie), who had a terrific Stage 1, finishing fifth.
Swierenga has been on fire in her first year as an elite. She climbed up the leaderboards after a terrific ride on Stage 2. Saturday was a very tough and hilly stage—her speciality—from Sant Vicenç de Castellet to La Molina for a total of 130 km.
Although she hasn’t won her first race as an elite, she’s come pretty darn close. In May, she finished second at the Grand Prix du Morbihan Femmes. She also finished seventh overall at the Vuelta a Extremadura Femenina earlier this year.
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