HONG KONG: Italy’s Rachele Barbieri grabbed her maiden world title with a furious final sprint to win the women’s 10km scratch race at the Track Cycling World Championships on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old left it late before she caught Elinor Barker following a last-lap break for victory by the British Olympic team pursuit gold-medalist.
Barbieri, the European under-23 champion, was left to celebrate her first major title on the opening night in Hong Kong. Belgium’s Jolien D’Hoore took bronze.
They had been among a group of six, also including 2015 champion Kirsten Wild and America’s Sarah Hammer, who surged forward after the halfway point.
Britain’s Barker was left to rue the timing of her late dash for the line, which seemed to be enough for the win until Barbieri got her nose in front.
“It all worked out pretty well, I guess I just wasn’t fast enough. Congrats to her but I’m really disappointed,” said Barker. “I went ever so slightly too soon.”
Cavendish sidelined by ‘fatigue’ virus
British road cycling star Mark Cavendish has been sidelined with a fatigue-inducing virus, his Team Dimension Data said Wednesday.
No date has been set for the return to the saddle of Cavendish, 31, who has not raced since the Milan-San Remo one-day event on March 18.
His absence was at first attributed to a cumulative right ankle injury.
But further tests have revealed that Cavendish, a 30-time Tour de France stage winner and one of the outstanding sprinters of his generation, is suffering from the Epstein-Barr virus
“Mark has been experiencing some unexplained fatigue during training,” said Team Dimension Data doctor Jarrad van Zuydam in a statement.
“Unfortunately, there is no effective specific treatment against the virus but rest will be required to aid his recovery.
“It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of when we can expect him back at full fitness but we are hopeful of a significant improvement of his symptoms over the next two weeks.”
Last year saw Cavendish win his first Olympic medal when, in his third Games, he took silver in the omnium at Rio as he combined his road career with a track program.
Cavendish, from the Isle of Man off England’s northwest coast, is just four wins away from equalling Tour de France great Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins.
This year’s tour starts in the German city of Dusseldorf on July 1 and Van Zuydam said: “His training load and symptoms will be monitored very carefully and he will make a gradual, step-wise return to full training and racing.”
Meanwhile the team statement added: “(We) are in full support of the Manxman (a native of the Isle of Man) and his ability to bounce back from this unfortunate setback.”
The 20-year-old left it late before she caught Elinor Barker following a last-lap break for victory by the British Olympic team pursuit gold-medalist.
Barbieri, the European under-23 champion, was left to celebrate her first major title on the opening night in Hong Kong. Belgium’s Jolien D’Hoore took bronze.
They had been among a group of six, also including 2015 champion Kirsten Wild and America’s Sarah Hammer, who surged forward after the halfway point.
Britain’s Barker was left to rue the timing of her late dash for the line, which seemed to be enough for the win until Barbieri got her nose in front.
“It all worked out pretty well, I guess I just wasn’t fast enough. Congrats to her but I’m really disappointed,” said Barker. “I went ever so slightly too soon.”
Cavendish sidelined by ‘fatigue’ virus
British road cycling star Mark Cavendish has been sidelined with a fatigue-inducing virus, his Team Dimension Data said Wednesday.
No date has been set for the return to the saddle of Cavendish, 31, who has not raced since the Milan-San Remo one-day event on March 18.
His absence was at first attributed to a cumulative right ankle injury.
But further tests have revealed that Cavendish, a 30-time Tour de France stage winner and one of the outstanding sprinters of his generation, is suffering from the Epstein-Barr virus
“Mark has been experiencing some unexplained fatigue during training,” said Team Dimension Data doctor Jarrad van Zuydam in a statement.
“Unfortunately, there is no effective specific treatment against the virus but rest will be required to aid his recovery.
“It is difficult to give an accurate estimate of when we can expect him back at full fitness but we are hopeful of a significant improvement of his symptoms over the next two weeks.”
Last year saw Cavendish win his first Olympic medal when, in his third Games, he took silver in the omnium at Rio as he combined his road career with a track program.
Cavendish, from the Isle of Man off England’s northwest coast, is just four wins away from equalling Tour de France great Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins.
This year’s tour starts in the German city of Dusseldorf on July 1 and Van Zuydam said: “His training load and symptoms will be monitored very carefully and he will make a gradual, step-wise return to full training and racing.”
Meanwhile the team statement added: “(We) are in full support of the Manxman (a native of the Isle of Man) and his ability to bounce back from this unfortunate setback.”
