Gracia Orlová 2026: Jasmin Liechti wins after dramatic final stage in Orlová
4.5.2026Read the original Czech version with full local coverage.
The 38th edition of the international women’s stage race Gracia Orlová ended with a dramatic twist. Swiss rider Jasmin Liechti claimed overall victory after race leader Emily Dixon crashed and abandoned the race in the final stage.
Liechti takes victory after dramatic finale
Orlová (Czech Republic) – The final stage of the women’s stage race Gracia Orlová 2026 brought an unexpected conclusion. Swiss rider Jasmin Liechti secured the overall victory after the race leader Emily Dixon was forced to abandon following a crash early in the stage.
Dixon entered the final stage wearing the yellow jersey with a narrow lead, but the race took a decisive turn in the opening laps. Despite efforts to return to the peloton, she had to withdraw from the race.
Liechti took full advantage of the situation, staying active in the peloton and controlling the race in the closing stages.
Ungerová wins the stage, Liechti takes overall title
The final stage in Orlová ended in a bunch sprint, where Slovak rider Sofia Ungerová claimed victory ahead of her rivals. Liechti finished third, which was enough to secure the overall win.
In the final general classification, Liechti finished ahead of Belgian rider Tess Moerman, with Ungerová completing the podium.
Strong Czech performance
The best Czech rider was Barbora Němcová (Dukla Praha), who finished 5th overall, marking the best Czech result in the race in recent years.
Barbora Němcová described this year’s edition as demanding and unpredictable: “This year’s race was very hectic with a large peloton. Unfortunately, crashes affected our team, but overall I consider the result successful.”
She highlighted the second stage as crucial: “The finish on Pustevny suited me well and, together with the time trial, helped me secure the 5th place overall.”
Interview: Sofia Ungerová: Demanding but motivating stages
Photo: Lucie Fábryová / eOrlová
How would you evaluate this year’s Gracia Orlová routes?
“This year’s routes at Gracia Orlová were very interesting and diverse. Most of them were similar to last year, but I really liked the change in Stage 2 with the finish on Pustevny.”
What was the most challenging moment of the race for you?
“The finish on Pustevny was the toughest moment of the entire race for me, but the atmosphere before the summit was amazing and motivated me to push all the way to the finish.”
What experience will you take into future races?
“I take a lot of valuable experience, especially from the final stage, which was held on a technically demanding circuit where it was important to maintain a good position at the front of the peloton throughout the race.”
How would you sum up this year’s race overall?
“The whole stage race was very successful for me and my team, and I’m already looking forward to the next edition.”
VIF Cycling Team takes team bronze
Czech VIF Cycling Team also achieved a strong result, finishing 3rd in the team classification, just seconds behind the top teams.
“We had a great start to the race and strong performances in the first stages. Unfortunately, crashes affected our team, but we still consider the result a success,” said sports director Vojtěch Řepa.
Interview with the winner Jasmin Liechti
Photo: add source
Swiss rider Jasmin Liechti, the overall winner of this year’s Gracia Orlová, shared her thoughts with eOrlová editorial team after the race.
How does it feel to win Gracia Orlová after finishing second last year?
“After last year’s second place in the general classification, the goal was definitely to go for the win again. To actually achieve it in the end feels great and was only possible thanks to my amazing teammates and our staff,” said Liechti.
The final stage brought an unexpected situation. When did you realize the overall victory was within your reach?
“We started the last stage knowing that the win was still possible if I gained all the bonus seconds. We were ready to go for it. So it was very unfortunate to hear that the leader had to abandon the race early,” she explained.
How challenging was it to stay focused and control the race in the last stage?
“We did great teamwork and made sure that we had everything under control. The others certainly didn’t make it easy, but when you have a general classification victory in sight, you find some extra energy,” Liechti added.
What was the most decisive moment of the race for you?
The decisive moment was the development of the final stage and her team’s ability to react once the opportunity for overall victory opened up.
Did you plan to go for time bonuses, or did the race situation change your strategy?
“First, we went for the time bonuses. When we heard that the leader was no longer in the race, there was no need to go for bonus seconds,” she said.
How do you rate Gracia Orlová compared to other UCI races you’ve competed in?
“It is a great race with perfect organisation and fun courses to ride on,” Liechti said.
What did you think about the atmosphere and support from Czech fans?
“They were great. See you maybe next year,” concluded Jasmin Liechti.
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Bc. Petr Drozdík
Editor-in-chief of the news portal eOrlová.cz
Photos: Lucie Fábryová, Jiří Mališ
Photographers participating in the student program of the eOrlová, z.s. editorial team
