EXAMPLE OF COMMITMENT. Those who know Katrine Aalerud well talk about a rider and person with an incredible ability to sacrifice, one who takes every bit of knowledge the great riders in the team teach her to improve more and more. Despite health not being on her side at some points of 2021, especially in its second half, the Norwegian rider again displayed her quality uphill and against the clock -claiming another national TT title-, abilities which make her one of the best allrounders in the current Movistar Team roster.

TOP RESULTS. She took a significant step forward in the early part 2021: claimed her first international podium with 3rd in the Setmana Valenciana; got close again to top-ten results (11th + 15th) at two of the three Ardennes classics (Amstel, Flèche Wallonne); finished 5th overall in a WorldTour stagerace, Burgos -plus 6th in the Lagunas de Neila, on the attack near the top-; and was 7th at the mountain TT of the Giro Donne. She didn’t miss the triple national team window from last season, competing at all Olympics, Euros and Worlds.

ALWAYS GOING UP. Despite those talents and results, we’re not specifically talking about an experienced rider with Aalerud: aged 27, she’s just got six seasons of pro experience -five at UCI teams-, yet she’s always taken significant leaps ahead every year. Top-20 overall in the 2018 Rosa; 7th in the mountainous Emakumeen Bira and Tour de l’Ardèche in 2019; 4th at one of the most demanding stages in the ‘Corsa Rosa’ in 2020, other than 9th in Liège – will 2022 bring yet another big move from her?