Mexican cyclist Yareli Acevedo became the world champion in the points race this Sunday, defeating her opponents from Great Britain and Australia on the final day of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Santiago 2025. Acevedo secured the gold medal with 63 points, surpassing Anna Morris, who took silver with 58 points, and Bryony Both of Australia, who earned bronze with 56 points.
The Mexican rider staged a spectacular comeback, as she was in fifth place with 10 laps to go, but she made a remarkable recovery to score the final 20 points that propelled her to the top of the podium.
“Twenty-four years ago, she became world champion, and I was just born. She has been an example, and thanks to my parents, I have that name. (Yareli) Today, I repeat history,” Yareli Acevedo said about Nancy Contreras, in statements to AS Mexico after the race.
She also stated that the work she has done for a decade paid off with the result at the World Championship and that Mexico has the talent to shine in other sports. She was amazed to be an example for new generations.
“I think there is a lot of talent in Mexico, and I want people to know that it can be done. We have that grit and strength to keep going, just like I dreamed,” the cyclist stated.
“After 2024, life took a complete turn and gave me a lot of emotional and physical maturity. It made me change many aspects of my life, and I had been improving little by little throughout the year. Today, thank God, the 10 years of work have paid off,” Yareli Acevedo added. On August 12, Yareli Acevedo Mendoza was ranked second in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) world track cycling rankings, following their latest update on August 11.
The cyclist from Quito, Pan American champion in Santiago 2023, appeared on the select list with a total of 5,554 points, behind Norway’s Anita Stenberg, who had 7,305 points.
Source: www.espndeportes.com