The Joy of Racing

Some races stay with you because of the result. Others because of how they make you feel.

This year’s La Vuelta Femenina will stay with me because, for the first time in a long time, I truly felt the joy of racing again.

Not just riding well. Not just producing good numbers. But racing instinctively again. Wanting to attack. Wanting to suffer. Wanting to fight for every climb, every point, every opportunity.

Somewhere during this week, I stopped thinking so much about whether I could still return to my best level and simply enjoyed being fully in the race again.

And honestly, that feeling might have been the biggest victory of all.

Throughout the week, chasing mountain points became an obsession in the best possible way. Every climb mattered. Every attack mattered. Every opportunity mattered.

On the final stage, I really gave everything trying to fight for the polka dots. From the very first climb, the racing was full gas. I pushed some of my best numbers of the season — actually my best 10-minute power of 2026 — trying to make the breakaway stick. For the first hour and a half we raced incredibly hard, but the peloton wasn’t too interested in letting me go.

Eventually those efforts came back to haunt me on the final climb, where I paid for going so deep early in the stage.

In the end, I finished second in the QOM competition by just three points.

Of course, that hurts. When you come that close, you naturally replay every moment and wonder where those three points could have been found. But at the same time, I can honestly say I’m proud.

Proud because I raced with courage again.

Proud because I felt like myself again.

And proud because this week reminded me that even after difficult years, the body and mind can still rediscover something that once felt lost.

What also made this Vuelta so special was the way we raced as a team. There was such a strong spirit within our group all week. We supported each other, fought for each other, and truly raced together.

Urška was incredible, fighting her way to 6th overall after an amazing ride on the brutal Angliru. And seeing our young wolf Lore finish 11th overall was another huge highlight. Sharing podium moments with teammates and watching young riders step forward with such confidence gives me so much hope and motivation.

This Vuelta also reminded me how much women’s cycling continues to evolve. The level is incredibly high, and the amount of young talent coming through the sport is inspiring to see. The future of women’s cycling is bright.

And maybe that’s another reason this week meant so much to me.

Because in a sport that constantly moves forward, where people are quick to tell you that your time has passed, I discovered that I still belong in the fight.

Not because of one jersey or one result.

But because I found the joy again.

-- Ashleigh Moolman Pasio