Spain’s 18-year-old Paula Ostiz triumphed in the Women’s Junior Road Race at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, held in Kigali, Rwanda, completing the 74-kilometre course with 1,520 meters of elevation in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 19 seconds.
Italy’s Chantal Pegolo narrowly missed out on gold, finishing just two seconds behind Ostiz, while Switzerland’s Anja Grossmann secured bronze four seconds back. The race featured 72 riders from 34 nations.
A bronze medallist in the Nationals earlier this year, Ostiz’s teammate, Almena, launched an early attack, opening a gap of nearly 40 seconds. Her effort, however, was ultimately contained on the Côte de Kimihurara, leaving the race poised for a dramatic finale.
As the race entered its closing stages, bold moves from the Netherlands’ Roos Muller and Greece’s Eirini Papadimitriou briefly shook the peloton. But Great Britain and Spain controlled the pace, ensuring Ostiz was positioned for the decisive moment. Only five riders remained at the front during the punishing cobbled climb of the Côte de Kimihurara, including Ostiz, Grossmann, Swierenga (Canada), Pegolo, and Italy’s Giada Silo.
With less than 500 meters to go, Ostiz launched her winning sprint, crossing the finish line nearly three bike lengths ahead of Pegolo. The victory showcased not only her remarkable sprinting ability but also Spain’s strategic teamwork in managing the peloton and timing the race perfectly.
The championships marked a historic first for Rwanda, hosting the event in Africa with over 1,000 participants from 100 nations. The elite women’s race followed the junior event, covering 164.6 kilometers with 3,350 meters of climbing, featuring top riders including France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
