Valentina Cavallar strengthens the climbing core of Team SD Worx-Protime

Valentina Cavallar strengthens the climbing core of Team SD Worx-Protime

“Surreal that I can ride for my dream team”

21/11/2025

Team SD Worx-Protime has strengthened its roster with Valentina Cavallar. The 24-year-old Austrian signs a contract until 2028. Previously, she competed as a rower at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Tour de France Femmes inspired her to fully pursue a cycling career. In her first professional season (2024), she quickly achieved some remarkable results, including the mountain jersey at Itzulia, an 8th place in the overall classification in Burgos, and strong climbing performances in the Tour.

“I hope to become a more complete rider at Team SD Worx-Protime and to keep learning. It would be amazing to participate in the Olympic Games again in 2028, but this time as a cyclist.”

Valentina Cavallar: “I still can’t quite believe that I’ll be riding in the colors of Team SD Worx-Protime next year. I got hooked on cycling when I went to watch the Tour de France Femmes in 2022. We were on training camp with the national rowing team and decided to add a bike training to go watch the stage on the Grand Ballon. Once the peloton had passed the Petit Ballon, the roads reopened. So I followed the course on my bike. Suddenly, I approached the tail of the peloton and ended up riding behind the last motorbike all the way to the finish.”

“That was the moment the seed was planted to start racing. Deep down, I always knew I wanted to cycle. As a rower, my highlight was competing at the Olympic Games at 20. In the year after Tokyo, I decided to quit rowing so I could fully focus on cycling. But in Austria, it’s really not easy to become a professional. There are hardly any teams or competitions. So I tried my luck in Italy. After a strong performance in an amateur race, I got in touch with my manager. I did several indoor tests and signed with Arkea in the middle of the 2024 season. Suddenly, I was riding Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. And I took my first mountain jersey at Itzulia. Things moved fast. 2025 was tougher, due to injuries and a personal situation.”

“It was emotional when I heard that Team SD Worx-Protime was interested. From the very first Tour, this has been my dream team. That dream is now becoming reality. I still get goosebumps. All my idols are in this team: Anna van der Breggen, Lorena Wiebes, and Lotte Kopecky. It’s a privilege to learn from the best riders. I’m a climber and I love stage races. The harder and longer, the better for me. I have a strong winning mentality and want to work hard to improve. To grow into a more complete rider at Team SD Worx-Protime and contribute to the team’s successes,” Cavallar concludes.

Sports Manager Danny Stam: “Climbing talent that can give us the power we need in the mountains”

Danny Stam: “Valentina Cavallar is a great addition to our climbing squad. We hope Valentina can support our team in the mountains, because that’s where we were missing some power. She made the switch from rowing to cycling and still has a lot to learn. But she has already shown her climbing talent, for example in the Tour de France. We will give her the time and space to develop herself.”

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