At the 2025 UCI Road World Championships under-23 women’s road race, 20-year-old Swiss cyclist Mara Winter finished fourth in a sprint, crossing the line 33 seconds behind gold medalist Viktória Chladoňová of Slovakia. Winter missed the podium after battling for position in the final meters against bronze medalist Fleur Moors of Belgium, concluding a breakthrough first full cycling season that earned her a contract with Swiss Continental team Nexetis for 2026.
How the Under-23 Women’s Road Race Unfolded
The 134-kilometer championship race came down to a decisive sprint among a small lead group. Viktória Chladoňová secured the world title for Slovakia with a winning time of 3:49:10, while Canada’s Isabella Holmgren took the silver medal on the same time. Fleur Moors captured the bronze medal, finishing 33 seconds ahead of Winter, who crossed alongside Australia’s Talia Appleton.
Winter evaluated the tactical errors of the final meters after missing the podium. “I think I just missed the peak power,” Winter said. “The sprint was too short; for me it’s better if it’s a bit longer. But I wasn’t sure whether I could start the sprint or not, and I thought, I just have to hang on and hope that the rider in front of me can stay with the Belgian rider. I had to pass her, close the gap to the Belgian, and then I could not pass her anymore.”
Despite missing out on a medal, Winter expressed satisfaction with her performance. “At the moment, I cannot believe it. I’m really, really happy with the result,” she said.
Rapid Rise to the International Peloton
Winter’s fourth-place finish at the world championships marks a swift ascension in the sport. She only began competing in national-level races in 2025, when she won Chur-Arosa—a 29.3-kilometer race featuring 1,191 meters of elevation gain from the capital of Graubünden to the resort town of Arosa. Her victory placed her name alongside past winners such as Marlen Reusser, Clara Koppenburg, and Petra Stiasny, catching the attention of the Nexetis team.
In May, Winter completed her first stage race at the 2.2 Tour de Feminin in Czechia. “The Tour de Feminin was my first stage race and I really enjoyed it,” Winter noted. “The roads were really good, and it was a great opportunity to learn because you had four days in a row.” Later in June, she claimed the Swiss under-23 ITT title and finished fourth in the elite road race championships.
Future Outlook with Nexetis and Dual Disciplines
The Nexetis team has sent several riders to the Women’s WorldTour, with Jasmin Liechti moving to Canyon-SRAM and Ginia Caluori joining Movistar for 2027. However, Winter intends to take a measured approach to her career progression.
“I only started to really race last year, so I think I have to see, to learn, and then when I have learned a bit, it comes by itself,” Winter said. “I don’t know how my way is going, and what’s going to happen.”
Alongside her road commitments, Winter plans to continue competing in mountain biking. Maintaining an open schedule between both disciplines allows her to gather multi-faceted experience. “At the moment, I’m just enjoying it. I’m also competing in mountain biking, and I want to go on with that. I really hope that I can continue to do both because I really enjoy both, and I think I can learn from both disciplines,” she stated.
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