Xavier Ariza and Janika Loiv win VolCAT by SCOTT 2025

Xavier Ariza takes the overall victory at the VolCAT by SCOTT 2025. The Spanish rider finished off the race on the third day of competition, a short but vibrant stage won by Raul Villar. In the women’s category, Janika Loiv won the third partial victory. The spectacle of the Eliminator was the best end of the party and put the finishing touch to an edition that had more than 500 riders.

Xavier Ariza wins the VolCAT by SCOTT after an explosive third stage

An immaculate sun illuminated the cold winter morning that had awakened the town of Igualada. The azure blue sky opened up to welcome the whole peloton. An army of bicycles appeared in front of the starting arch and the riders started pedalling with strict punctuality. The race advanced through Vilanova del Camí between trails and a steep 2-kilometre climb that served as the first filter.

The group stretched and disintegrated quickly. The race placed Raul Villar, Maxime Crocket and Xavier Ariza as the main protagonists. The three of them dueled for a good part of the stage, between narrow roads, forest and tracks surrounded by huge green fields.

The riders headed to the area around Carme and its riverside park before heading into one of the key points of today’s stage: the bare hills of solid ground that had the riders flowing between singletrack trails. Villar opened up a gap on his companions and took advantage of the arrival on a dirt track to start the engine and squeeze the quadriceps to the maximum.

The stage – short but explosive – forced all the riders to step on the gas from the start. Villar managed to make up ground and built up a 30-second gap on his pursuers, united by the common goal of catching him again. However, Villar was able to resist and held on throughout the second part of the stage at the front.

So, without any unexpected twists and turns, Villar reached the finish line to certify his victory in the third stage of the VolCAT by SCOTT 2025. A triumph that adds to the one he already won in the first stage. Despite that, the main protagonist was Xavier Ariza, who held on to the yellow jersey he wore yesterday and became the new overall champion of the VolCAT by SCOTT.

Janika Loiv wins in a race in which she was unbeatable

Estonia’s Janika Loiv once again shone brightly in the final stage. The international rider assumed the role of favourite from the start and flew along with Estíbaliz Sagardoy. Despite the Spanish rider’s attempts to cling to the multi-national champion’s wake, Loiv took off and didn’t stop.

Loiv’s cavalcade continued to the finish line and she raised her arms to celebrate victory on the final stage of the VolCAT by SCOTT 2025. The Estonian adds this victory to the other two she won in the first two stages.

Xavier Ariza and Janika Loiv also win Eliminator show

The day of the VolCAT ended in style with the celebration of an Eliminator race in the Parc Central de Igualada, the nerve centre of the race during these three days. The fastest men and women battled it out in this peculiar competition that attracted a large number of enthusiasts and onlookers who wanted to come along.

The overall winners, Xavier Ariza and Janika Loiv, were also the best in this race.