For the second consecutive year Monica Trinca Colonel has finished in the top-10 of the Vuelta España Femenina 2026, confirming herself as the best Italian rider in the first Grand Tour of the season. The Valtellinese rider from Liv AlUla Jayco, classified seventh at the end of the demanding Iberian racing week, is now at home, where she is enjoying a brief period of relaxation and where tuttobiciweb reached her by phone to take stock of this Vuelta.

"I am satisfied with how things went overall. I had seven positive days, alongside a team that was truly perfect, and I confirmed last year's result by once again finishing among the top ten in the general classification" says Monica.

Looking at the partial stage results, it is clear how the 26-year-old Lombard rider maintained consistent performance: five out of seven stages finished among the top fifteen in the finishing order. What particularly stands out in Trinca Colonel's track record is the fifth place achieved at Les Praeres, the first mountain finish of this year's Vuelta, a placement thanks to which Monica gained fifteen positions in the general classification, climbing to fourth place. "During the race I always had good sensations, particularly at the end of the sixth stage I was really satisfied with being able to express myself well by entering the top-5".

The native of Grosotto at this point in her analysis does not hide a slight regret: "Losing fourth place on the final stage by just 15 seconds leaves a bit of a bitter taste" she confides to us. Then she adds: "Saturday also had good sensations, but I think something was missing in the final" highlighting how the stage finishing at the top of Angliru lasted an hour longer than the one that ended at Les Praeres.

Trinca Colonel has left the difficult slopes of Angliru behind her, in her words satisfaction prevails for an important result achieved and confirmed a year later: "I am happy to be among the best at the Vuelta for the second year and aware of coming out of these seven intense days without having accumulated too much fatigue. In fact, the Vuelta is part of my preparation for the Giro d'Italia Women which is not that far away".

Monica will allow herself a few more days of relative tranquility before starting a series of training sessions to prepare for the "pink race" which will start from Cesenatico on May 30th. "It will be truly exciting to race the Giro, my loved ones will be there to support me, the fans, and as always there will be a special atmosphere. It will be a new opportunity to try to perform well" says the Valtellinese rider with a determined voice.

A new opportunity to try to achieve the seasonal objective that the talented athlete had told us about at the beginning of the year: finishing among the top five classified riders in a Grand Tour.