Visma's Chladonova won the U23 world championships despite still being at school: 'I couldn’t train properly'
Cycling
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleViktoria Chladonova has finally done it: she’s become world champion. The talented Slovakian, just 19 years old, stood on the podium in both the road race and time trial in the youth categories in 2024 and 2025, but finally added a rainbow jersey to her collection on Thursday in Montreal. After the race, the friendly young woman shared her story with IDL Pro Cycling, among others.
ADVERTISEMENT
Chladonova, who is under contract with Visma | Lease a Bike through 2027, has been regarded as a top prospect for several years now. In 2024, she finished second in the time trial and third in the road race in the junior category in Zurich, while last year in Rwanda she placed second in both disciplines.
On Monday, she finished fourth in the time trial in Canada, which brought her to tears afterward. Those tears were there again on Thursday, but this time they were tears of joy.
Read also
Read more below the photo!
Viktoria Chladonova in the rainbow jersey.
Interview with World Champion Viktoria Chladonova
Viktoria, congratulations!
"Yes, it was my dream after finishing second last year. I really, really wanted that first world title. I had a plan in mind and tried to attack in as small a group as possible. And yes, it was perfect; Isabella (Holmgren, ed.) and I worked together really well, and then it came down to the final sprint. So yes, I’m super happy I was able to pull it off.”
Can you describe the final lap, when Isabella tried to get away from you? What was your strategy, and what were you thinking at the time?
"It was tough to keep up with her, but I managed to stay on her wheel. Then I knew my chances in the sprint were better, so I was so happy that we could ride together and that I could stay on her wheel and felt really good. When she started sprinting, I tried to react immediately and get on her wheel. It was a very tough sprint, so it came down to the legs.
What was it like to race against the Canadian Holmgren, on Canadian soil and in front of a Canadian crowd, in the final lap?
"Yeah, it was amazing—the crowd was really cheering us on. It means a lot to the Canadian team, and they had a really strong team too, so I knew they were the best. I tried to focus on them, but the crowd was amazing, and that gave me some extra watts."
Read more below the photo!
Viktoria Chladonova defeated Isabella Holmgren in Canada.
You haven't raced for your team, Visma | Lease a Bike, since July in preparation for this World Championship. Can you tell us what you've been up to in the meantime?
"Yes, that's right, I haven't raced for two months. I trained during that time because this World Championship was my biggest goal of the season. Before the start of the season, I had school commitments, so I couldn’t train properly and didn’t perform very well in the races. So after that, I decided to focus on training, and I’m really glad that approach has paid off now.”
Have you finished school yet?
"Yes, I graduated from high school this spring, so now I can focus entirely on cycling. This gives me even more motivation to be even more successful next season."
You've achieved good results in several disciplines, including a second-place finish at this year's Cyclocross World Championships. Will you focus more on a single discipline in the future, or will you continue competing in multiple disciplines?
"Yes, I still want to do cyclocross and road racing, so I think I'll still be doing cyclocross next year, too. I think it's good for my development and also for my skills on the bike."
Read also
Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
IDL-productions
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Pogačar, Vingegaard and Van Aert went faster again in 2026... except when they didn't
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Track World Championships day 2: A golden day for Team GB, Levreysen goes 2 for 2, and Kopecky eliminates the competition
Latest Cycling News
Disqualified Schreiber skips European Championship podium: 'I’m very grateful that she said that'
Mountain bike champion and outsider Santos delivers biggest surprise of European Cyclocross Championships
Mason delivers performance for the ages at European Championships: 'What a privilege it is to pour my heart and soul into it'
Sven Nys spoke with Lucinda Brand straight after European Championship drama: 'Is that enough to ultimately relegate someone'
Visma | Lease a Bike knows what it needs to do to sign Paul Seixas: 'I'm looking for a feeling, a connection'
Popular Cycling News
Sven Nys spoke with Lucinda Brand straight after European Championship drama: 'Is that enough to ultimately relegate someone'
Fears of serious injury to Alvarado, bronze medalist, after the European Cyclocross Championships
Alberto Contador thinks 2027 Tour de France will be different: 'Pogačar is only this good because of Vingegaard'
Disqualified Schreiber skips European Championship podium: 'I’m very grateful that she said that'
Schreiber's team manager Sanne Cant reacts furiously to European Championship relegation: "We're not going to let this slide."
Latest Comments
- Is the Giro the race that happens before the Tour? And does winning the mountains jersey mean Carapaz scored the most points on climbs? Which race was everyone’s favourite?bikebuffj05-11-2026
- How did Mathieu van der Poel miss the list? His classics results surely put him in the conversation.sprocketspiny05-11-2026
- McNulty deserves more credit than his ranking suggests. A world title and all that work as a domestique make for a superb season.tourdeforce905-11-2026
- Seixas winning Lombardia at 20 is astonishing. The “next Pogačar” label feels a bit premature, though—let him build his own story before piling on the comparisons.andrewf05-11-2026
- Pogačar’s palmarès is ridiculous, but Van Aert deserves a special mention for Roubaix. Beating Tadej in the velodrome was one of the moments of the season.cyclechamp4505-11-2026
- I’m still learning the calendar: is cyclocross mainly preparation for the spring classics, or does he race it as a separate goal as well? I’d love to see him back in the mud.jeremya04-11-2026
- The article makes it sound as if Roubaix is the only classic where he has a realistic shot. He’s been close in Flanders too, and one good tactical day can change everything.jennifer1904-11-2026
- Milan-Sanremo and Roubaix is a pretty special pair of Monuments. Any clues yet on which cyclocross races he’ll target?andrewf04-11-2026
- He’s right to be realistic about Flanders with Pogačar and Evenepoel around, but you can’t count Van Aert out on those roads. If he gets the right opportunity, he has the engine and experience to take it.davidm04-11-2026
- That Roubaix win felt like such a release after all the near-misses. Brilliant to hear that joy outweighed relief for Wout.patriciaw04-11-2026