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RACE REPORTS: CLIMBER STUNS SPRINTER TO WIN U23 GOLD
Road Bike Action & AFP
September 27, 2008
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Colombian Fabio Andres Duarte of Colombia capped a superbly-timed attack with a smart win in the Mens U23 Road Race in at the World Cycling championships in Varese Friday. Banging his fists in frustration, Italian Simone Ponzi came across the finish lin to take the silver medal with John Degenkolb of Germany bronze. Duarte was the sole Colombian in the lead group after the halfway stage, while Italy found themselves with three riders in the break on the final lap of the 17.33km circuit.
But with 900m. to go, Duarte made a solo attack right after the final turn leading to the finish line, surprising the others. As Ponzi and the remainder of the eight-man leading group watched, the 22-year-old from Bogota came over the line in triumph to become the first ever Colombian to claim gold in the event. "I knew I had to attack right then because, since I'm more of a climber, I knew I'd have no chance in a bunch sprint," said Duarte, who spent three months off the bike earlier this year due to a serious crash. "I'm so happy to have won this title. It's been a difficult year for me."
While Duarte made the critical move of racing up to a leading group of riders with 65km to race, Ponzi - a sprinter - had closed a gap only during the penultimate lap. In the closing stages he spoke tactics with compatriots Daniel Oss and Damiano Caruso, but they admitted they were fading.
Ponzi anticipated sprinting for gold, but was beat to it by Duarte - who raced briefly last year with the Italian team Diquigiovanni. "I'm really happy to get the silver medal, but I'm feeling slightly bitter because I had pinpointed the final bend as a strategic point," said Ponzi. "I did well to get across to the leaders. When the Colombian attacked I gave it everything to pull him back, but he was just too fast."
75th World Championships Varese, Italy
September 23-28, 2008
September 26: U23 Men Road Race / 173.35km
1. Fabio Andres Duarte (Colombia) 4h17'02"
(40.500 km/hr avg.)
2. Simone Ponzi (Italy)
3. John Degenkolb (Germany)
4. Ben Swift (Great Britain)
5. Rui Costa (Portugal)
6. Cyril Gautier (France)
7. Egor Silin (Russian Federation)
8. Daniel Oss (Italy) @ :05"
9. Dennis Van Winden (Netherlands) @ :07"
10. Damiano Caruso (Italy) @ :12"
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