Racing
Alison Jackson wins overall at Gracia
Canadian wraps up a strong week of racing in the Czech Republic and young riders shine
May 4, 2025
Alison Jackson clinched the overall victory at Gracia with a strong third-place finish on the final stage, securing the first general classification win of her professional career.
“We started the week really strong, and it ended up coming down to the wire but we pulled it off. That’s a good weekend in my books,” said Jackson.
The race was a chance to put younger riders in leadership roles and give them the freedom to race, make decisions, and grow. With no race radios, the responsibility was firmly in the riders' hands–and they delivered.
“Our plan going in was ambitious,” said sport director Emma Trott. “We wanted to develop our young riders, go for stage wins, and try to win the GC. It sounds greedy, but that was the reality, and we’re proud we pulled it off. We weren’t perfect, but the commitment was unreal. The girls rode. They were aggressive, they raced with instinct, and they didn’t give up.”
“It was a younger group out there with me, and I guess in some ways I took on more of a mentor role,” said Jackson. “This race doesn’t allow radios, so there’s more pressure on the road captain to make calls and communicate clearly. That kind of setup puts responsibility on the riders to manage situations in the moment and we did just that.”
The breakthrough moment for the younger riders came on the penultimate stage, when our 19-year-old Alex Volstad sprinted to second place.
“That’s exactly why we do these races,” said Trott. “It’s not just about where they’re at. It’s about giving them confidence in their ability to race at this level.”
The final stage was all about defending the jersey. With pressure on their shoulders, the team executed a flawless plan. Jackson won the first intermediate sprint. Nina Berton grabbed bonus seconds when necessary. The team stayed alert and kept racing aggressively.
“We were leading and had everything to lose,” said Trott. “But from the first sprint, I knew they had it. Alison won the sprint, Nina took seconds off rivals, and they were switched on all day. They made their lives harder than it had to be, but they got the job done and that’s what counts.”
Congratulations to the squad on this win!