"Overall, I'm happy with today. Last year I didn't even think about a comeback, and now this is happening. I'm really happy to be part of this team and it's like having my gold medal back." Hentalla said after finishing second behind former world champion Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo) in Vila-Real on the second stage.
Hentala took a break from the sport for a time to have a baby, but returned to the women's peloton earlier this year with AG Insurance-Soudal-Quick Step. She also cited burnout as the reason for her absence from racing.
"It was super special to have Olavi there," Hentara said. 'But it's hectic with 160 people in the peloton. I need to get my place and my rhythm back.
She has enjoyed a successful racing career, notably winning Ghent-Wevelgem in 2017, winning two stages of the Women's Tour, and finishing on the podium in several races, including the World Championship Road Race, the RideLondon Classic, and La Course.
She raced for the Bigla and Trek-Segafredo teams before joining Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling in 2021. She represented Finland in the women's road race at the Tokyo Olympics, but was unable to race because she was pregnant with her son Olavi.
The Setana Valenciana event was her first race in the AG Insurance Soudal Quickstep, a three-tiered program that includes under-19, under-23, and elite continental teams.
Hentala finished second behind Balsamo in the first two stages. In addition, her team, AG Insurance Soudal-Quick Step, showed its early season strength in the final kilometers of the second stage with a strong leadout over WorldTour rivals Trek Segafrio, Jumbo Visma, and UAE Team ADQ.
"Yesterday we lost each other in the final. Now we have our own sprint train and pulled her off well. We still have some work to do but it looks promising. Considering we are a new team, this is already great. So far I'm very impressed," said director and former professional racer Jolien Dufour.
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