FLORENCE, Italy: Olympic champion Marianne Vos outclassed her rivals to claim her third gold in the women’s road race at the world cycling championships yesterday.
Sweden’s Emma Johansson took the silver medal after beating Italy’s Rossella Ratto in a two-up sprint for the finish line of the 139.6 km race, which began in Montecatini Terme.
“It’s great to defend the title. They always say it’s hard to win one, but to do it two times in a row is even more difficult,” said Vos, who now has 11 senior world titles spread across road, track and cyclo-cross.
Vos, the London Olympic champion, was arguably the biggest threat from the field of 139 starters on an undulating race which ended on a 2.8 km flat section.
But her third victory, after titles in 2006 and 2012, came in large part down to teammate Anna van der Breggen, whose numerous counter-attacks on the final two laps helped dissuade rivals and allow Vos some extra comfort.
After the Dutch pair had stayed with a five-strong group over the two main climbs on the fifth and last lap of the circuit, Vos took the race by the scruff of the neck.
On a steep, 600-metre rise she stunned American climbing specialist Evelyn Stevens with a turn of pace that no one could match and after reaching the top of it hit top speed on the closing 2.8 km to leave her rivals with no chance.
“Until the last lap I didn’t feel too confident but on the steep climb I knew I had the chance to attack,” added Vos, who was quick to pay tribute to van der Breggen.
“Of course you have to make those tactical moves... but it was great to have Anna van der Breggen there to close down the attacks, and that gave me the belief I could do something.
“She’s been strong all season and last year she did the same, great job. She was the one we wanted to have in the final.” AFP
