Our competitor took the lead on the first climb and maintained a high pace to hold the top position through all five laps. This was Njemčević's fifth overall victory on the Vodice course, earning her an additional 60 UCI points.
Second place went to Angelina Hinder of Austria, who finished 9 minutes and 34 seconds behind Njemčević, while third place was claimed by Italy's Elena Dal Ben, with a deficit of just over 14 minutes.
The race in Vodice, held on an exceptionally technical, rocky, and physically demanding course, served as the final form check and terrain adaptation ahead of the World Cup event on Elba, Italy, scheduled for May 9. Lejla Njemčević currently ranks 8th on the world UCI marathon ranking list and makes no secret of her ambition to return to the very top.
"We are extremely satisfied with the form shown on the technically demanding course in Vodice, which served as the final preparation and simulation of the terrain awaiting me on Elba. We completed very disciplined and tough winter preparations, and we honed our form at the Cape Epic, so now I enter the main part of the season with great confidence. Our goal, as always, is the podium and the very top of the world UCI ranking list. The season will be long and demanding, and I am sure that is where my greatest advantage lies," said Lejla Njemčević.
For context, Njemčević finished an excellent second place in last season's World Cup race on Elba, while at the start of this season, at the first World Cup in Spain in February, she placed sixth.