The highest-ranked cyclist among all those registered at the Pan American Road Cycling Championships, American Kristen Faulkner, Olympic road champion in Paris 2024, did not disappoint in her first outing on the roads of Montería, claiming the title in the women’s individual time trial, elite category.
With this result, the United States retained its title won in Uruguay last year and reached 14 gold medals in this discipline since its debut in these Pan American Games in 1997. Incidentally, it was the fourth consecutive gold for the North American country, and this time they achieved a 1-2 finish for the eighth time in the demanding event.
Kristen Faulkner, 33, succeeded her compatriot Ruth Edwards as Pan American champion with a time of 38:31 minutes after covering the 31.4 kilometers.
The American cyclist was the fastest in the individual time trial. She practically flew through the timed event and took first place, followed by her teammate Emily Ehrlich and Chilean Aranza Villalón, second and third, respectively.
This race concluded the first day of the continental cycling event, which continues this Thursday in the department of Córdoba with the time trials for the Under-23 and elite men, who will cover 36 and 43 kilometers, respectively.
The medal standings are as follows: Colombia (1-1-1), United States (1-1-0), Brazil (1-0-0), Chile (0-1-1), and Venezuela (0-0-1).
CRI Femenina
Circunvalar – Buenavista (31,4 km)
| 1 | Kristen Faulkner | USA | 38:31 |
| 2 | Emily Ehrlich | USA | 0:32 |
| 3 | Aranza Villalón | Chile | 2:47 |
| 4 | Lilibeth Chacón | Venezuela | 3:28 |
| 5 | Andrea Ramírez | México | 3:52 |
| 6 | Camila Valbuena | Colombia | 3:57 |
| 7 | Catalina Soto | Chile | 4:01 |
| 8 | Sara Roel | México | 4:12 |
| 9 | Delfina Dibella | Argentina | 4:33 |
| 10 | Diana Peñuela | Colombia | 5:25 |
| 11 | Karine De Macedo | Brasil | 5:26 |
| 12 | Miryam Núñez | Ecuador | 6:35 |
| 13 | Gabriela Soto | Guatemala | 6:35 |
| 14 | María Acosta | Argentina | 6:35 |
| 15 | Alondra Granados | Costa Rica | 6:58 |