HAVANA, Cuba, May 23 (acn) Cubans Iraida Garcia and Arlenis Sierra won the gold and silver medals respectively in the women's individual road race event of the Pan American Road Cycling Championships, held in a circuit of San Cristobal, Tachira state, in Venezuela.
According to JIT digital edition, this is the last Olympic qualifying event for the Games next August in Rio de Janeiro.
Garcia covered the 86.40 kilometers of the circuit in 2: 38.26 hours, and was escorted by her teammate Sierra and Brazilian Flavia Cardoso finished third.
José Luis Basulto, press officer of the Pan American Cycling Confederation, said that Sierra is virtually qualified for the Brazilian summer event, although after her victory, Garcia also increases her chances of attending Rio de Janeiro if Cuba appears among the top 20 countries in the ranking.
That will be known in early June when the International Cycling Union (UCI by its French acronym) to announce the 62 riders who will join the three who already won their tickets in the continents of America, Asia and Africa and the two Brazilian representatives, who earned their berth due to their local status.
Cuba has historically excelled in these Pan American competitions, as Marlies Mejias (2015), Yumari Gonzalez (2006, 2008 and 2012) and Sierra (2013 and 2014) have won the crowns previously.
According to JIT, Mejias, multi-medalist in Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games and Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, already won her ticket to Rio but in omnium, a grueling track event which lasts two days.
The other Cuban woman who will be in the summer event is the young veteran Lisandra Guerra (speed and keirin), owner of medals in world cups and championships.
Frank Consuegra Jr. was the representative of the Caribbean island in the men's U-23 event where he finished 19th, while in the individual time trial he ended up 15th.
Nos reservamos el derecho de no publicar los comentario que incumplan con las normas de este sitio