Cuban Arlenis Sierra, from the Movistar team and the best cyclist in the Americas in the world road ranking, secured fifth place in the Danilith Nokere Koerse one-day race, in Belgium, belonging to the elite female category of the International Cycling Union (UCI). ).
Sierra once again showed her class a few hours after returning from Cuba, as she discussed the final sprint and crossed the finish line just 29 seconds behind the winner, the local Lotte Kopecky, who covered the 129.1 kilometers in three hours, 15 minutes and three seconds. She trailed the renowned host of her SD Work teammate, Dutchman Lorena Wiebes, by 28 seconds.
Then came the distinguished Italians Marta Bastianelli (ADQ) and Elisa Balsamo (Trek-Segafredo), who together with the Cuban headed the main batch of 18 riders in which the Spanish Alicia González, also from Movistar, was pedaling, all 29 seconds behind the leader. .
The other best of the famous Spanish club was the French Aude Biannic, in 33rd place, 1.05 minutes behind the winner. The Olympic and world champion Annemiek Van Vleuten, the undisputed leader of Movistar, did not intervene.
On the long and difficult track starting at Deinze and finishing at Nokere, the peloton faced five climbs and several cobbled sections, including on the last climb before the finishing line. This surface requires refined technique, much more when pedaling at high speeds. Of the 118 athletes who started, 38 did not complete the tour.
The next commitment of the Manzanillera and Movistar will be the XXIV Binda-Comune di Cittiglio Trophy 2023, scheduled for next Sunday over 139 kilometers starting at 12:10 (local time).
The demanding race also corresponds to the calendar of the UCI women’s world circuit. In 2017 Arlenis won second place, precisely when she was making her professional debut with the Astana team. 24 teams have been announced, 12 of those world cups and the same continental ones.
Source: Lisset Ricardo, Jit