SD Worx-Protime found itself in unfamiliar territory during 2025 when the team was well off the podium on the all-important queen stages at two out of the three Grand Tours. Still, the once-dominant Dutch team is continuing to take steps to rebuild the depth in its climbing group with the signing of Valentina Cavallar through to 2028.
Cavallar decided to switch from rowing to cycling in the year after the Tokyo Olympic Games, ultimately moving to Italy so she could make her mark in amateur racing before finding a mid-season place with Arkéa-B&B Hotels in 2024. From there, she was quick to show signs of climbing promise, coming second in the mountains classification at Itzulia Women, second overall at Tour Féminin International des Pyrénées and seventh on Alpe d'Huez at the Tour de France Femmes.
