The rains of the last two days have given way to a day of sun and clear skies and where the public attendance has been very high. The two races were spectacular, with excitement until the last minute.
At 14:30 the Elite men race was on, designed to 6 laps in a circuit that has been draining water from the rains of the last two days. Still, the technical descents have been a key element in the progress of the competition. After the first third of the race, the men with options for the victory has been clarified.
Schurter commanded the race with the intention that no groups were formed and Absalon, the other big favorite to win, was passing riders after a poor start. Once these two riders have gathered, the battle we are so used to has been unleashed. Julien sought to set a high pace so that the Swiss could not withstand such a demanding tempo, but Schurter looked powerful and strong enough stay on the wheel of the French. Behind them, the Czech Ondrej Cink fought bravely for joining the two men leading, but he could not close the gap.
With a lap and a half we lived two battles in the fight for the medals. In front Schurter has managed to open a gap in one of the technical descents and decided to push full gas in order not to give any option to Absalon to catch him again. And so we lived a final lap where both riders have maintained a gap of 10 seconds, which is the distance with which they have finally reached the finish line. With this victory, Schurter gets a new World in his legendary career.
Behind them, Cink was surviving to the push of the German Manuel Fumic, who tried to catch him and win the bronze medal. Still, the Czech has maintained a high level and has taken the third place of the podium with a seven seconds margin.
Two hours earlier, at 12:00 it was the time for the women’s elite race, with the presence of the best bikers in the world. Pauline Ferrand Prevot left far behind in the grid, but after just a lap she was already in the leading group. But the French did not want to stay too long riding with other riders and has kept pushing, with such a rhythm that nome of her competitors could follow.
Behind there was a fight for the other two podium positions. We have lived an exciting fight between riders with a long career such as Gunn-Rita Dahle, Sabine Spitz, Irina Kalentieva, Catherine Pendrel and another new batch with Emily Batty and Ukranian Yana Belomoina. After a couple of laps with many changes, the race has been clarified. The Russian Kalentyeva has managed to open a gap and held in the second position consistently.
The biggest surprise was Belomoina, who was passing riders at a very high pace. Impressive was her last lap, where she has demonstrated her high quality and brutal resistance for a girl in her first elite year and in a race of nearly two hours. The reward came in the form of bronze.
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