It was in difficult weather conditions where rain and cold were present that Magdeleine Vallières-Mill was the best Canadian of the day in the elite women’s road race of the World Road Cycling Championships.
Saturday, in Zurich, the Sherbrookoise ranked 14e (+3 min) of the event where the Belgian Lotte Kopecky was crowned world champion for a second year in a row.
Vallières-Mill and Ava Holmgren were the two Canadians who were able to stay in the group of favorites for a moment in the last third of the 154 kilometers of this challenging course. The other Quebecers, Olivia Baril (+10 min 10 s) and Clara Émond (+11 min 1 s), respectively finished 41e and 51e.
My goal was to save as much energy as possible and be able to keep up with the best. I ran out of legs a little at the end to follow the group of favorites who got away. I’m still happy. I’m improving and slowly getting closer to these girls.
Magdeleine Vallières-Mill
Strength in numbers did not work to the advantage of the Dutch who were excluded from the podium. Demi Vollering and her teammates did a lot of the work throughout the race, except that it was in fifth place that she reached the finish. The American Chloé Dygert and the Italian Elisa Longo Borghini completed the podium.
There were four at the head of the race with 30 kilometers to go, including two Dutch women, including former world champion Marianne Vos. The leaders were joined 10 kilometers later by a group of favorites from which Kopecky and Dygert were absent.
Vollering tried to flee on a few occasions, without success, and was then often seen signaling others to take over to ensure their lead over the pursuers. Knowing that his chances of beating Kopecky were less if the race ended in a sprint, Vollering tried other attacks, in addition to imposing a big tempo on a false flat rising 5 kilometers from the line without however making the difference.
Behind, completely frozen, Kopecky limited the gaps as best she could and continued to advance at her own pace, which allowed her to get back to the leading group in the company of the Australian Ruby Roseman-Gannon at the red flame. and win on the line a few moments later.
PHOTO PETER DEJONG, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lotte Kopecky
The best Canadian of the day also paid the price for the weather: “Several of us made poor clothing choices and that was a big factor in the race. Those who chose their clothes well saved a lot of energy. »
The Belgian dedicated her victory to the memory of Muriel Furrer, the young Swiss runner who died following a fall in Thursday’s junior women’s race.
Charles Moreau stops earlier than expected
Earlier in the morning in para-cycling, Charles Moreau was forced to abandon the H3 road race. As was the case in the individual time trial contested earlier this week, it was Frenchman Mathieu Bosredon who was crowned world champion.
“The weather conditions were very difficult and I hoped to have recovered to be in great shape, but halfway through, I was already well behind,” commented Moreau, who had started the worlds on antibiotics due to of a urinary infection. “I also had breathing difficulties and secretions, which meant that I was unable to help my teammate [Joey Desjardins]so I cut my day short for health reasons. »
The Victoriaville athlete will be on vacation upon his return to the country, having completed the third Paralympic cycle of his career.
“It was a long season that started in January in Australia. I am due to reconnect with my social circle and resume a slightly more normal routine,” concluded the man who plans to go mountain biking for fun, adding that this break will also be a moment for him to reflect on his future. sporty.