Final Check Before World Cup: Lejla Njemčević Competes at UCI C1 Race in Vodice

(Patria) - Bosnia's top female cyclist Lejla Njemčević will compete this weekend at the international UCI XCO C1 race in Vodice, Croatia. This appearance will serve as her final competitive form check before the continuation of the season and new challenges on the world stage.

The demanding course in Vodice is exceptionally well known to our competitor. Njemčević has triumphed at this legendary race four times in her career so far, in 2017 and 2018, and in 2023 and 2024, and the technically demanding rocky terrain provides an ideal simulation of what awaits her at the World Cup on the island of Elba in Italy.

"I feel really good and completely race-ready, and eight days of extremely tough racing at the Cape Epic helped me hone my form to the desired level. Now the main part of the season, which we have been preparing for months, officially begins. Given how the winter preparations and the races so far have gone, I enter this period with great confidence and I can't wait for the upcoming challenges at the biggest races on the cycling scene," said Lejla Njemčević.

After the appearance in Croatia, the Bosnian cyclist travels to Italy, where on May 9th her second World Cup appearance of the season in the marathon discipline awaits, held on the island of Elba. Njemčević showed last season that the course there, known for sharp rocks and steep climbs, suits her very well, when she finished an excellent second place on Elba. At the opening of the World Cup season in Spain in February, our competitor took a high 6th place, which was also her first appearance on the new Orbea bicycle.

The main goal of the upcoming race in Vodice is to raise the competitive rhythm, so that the European vice-champion from 2024 travels to Italy as prepared as possible and can again compete for the highest step of the podium in the World Cup.