Mona Mitterwallner: MTB world champion hungry for more after her road bike debut

Once the work was done, Mona Mitterwallner was satisfied with her first attempt at a professional road race. "For the fact that I've only been training for a fortnight after my operation and that I started with a cold, I'm super happy!" she summarised after four stages of the Setmana Valenciana. Although she wasn't able to compete in the overall standings or in the individual stages, the race had a high-calibre field: The two past Tour de France winners Demi Vollering (who also secured overall victory at the Setmana Valenciana) and Kasia Niewiadoma were at the start, Olympic champion Anna van der Breggen made a strong comeback in third place overall and finally former world champion Elisa Balsamo took two stage wins. Liane Lippert from Friedrichshafen was also among the front runners and finished fifth overall. For Mitterwallner, the four days in the illustrious circle were an apprenticeship. "I was mega far behind in comparison in training. The race was there to gain experience," emphasised the career changer, who came third overall in the Mountain Bike World Cup in 2023 but is a newcomer to competing at the highest level on the road bike. And also had an injury break behind her.

Start of the season shortly after an operation

The Tyrolean had torn a ligament in her ankle on a ski tour and only had the damage surgically repaired in January. She gritted her teeth for the chance to start the road cycling season early. "The ankle already realises that it has been racing for four days. It's not 100 per cent healed yet," she admitted in her summary. The most important realisation: "Stage racing is mega cool." Unlike compatriot and MTB competitor Laura Stigger, who wants to try out this year whether road cycling suits her and is fun, Mitterwallner is determined to make her way to the top of the world on a racing bike.

Hardly any experience in road races

It was her first appearance in the elite women's category. She had previously ridden in just one road race - that was at the U23 European Championships in Trento in 2021. The 1.58 metre tall climbing specialist, who does not want to reveal her weight, believes she is well equipped for stage races in road cycling. The first highlight of the season should be this year the Vuelta, i.e. the women's Tour of Spain. This will take place from 4 to 10 May 2025. The route of the race had not yet been published in mid-February. However, the programme usually includes difficult mountain stages and longer mountain finishes. Vollering won there last year.

Winner in the role of helper

As a road novice, Mitterwallner is likely to have a helper's role in her US racing team for the time being - she was also employed as a water carrier at the tour in the Valencia region and had to carry water bottles to her team-mates. The ambitious cyclist's plan for the future is clear: in the long term, she wants to be at the front of the Tour de France Femmes. However, the road is likely to be long. Especially as the two-time marathon world champion from Silz in the Inn Valley would like to ride on two tracks. This year she wants to take part in the World Cup series (now called the World Series) and compete in the MTB World Championships in Valais in August. An ambitious project. Olympic MTB champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot recently said goodbye to off-road cycling because the former world champion on the road and MTB believes that the level is now too high to successfully compete in both disciplines at the same time.