Arlenis Sierra
Havana, July 7 (RHC) - Cuban Arlenis Sierra continued to add to her cycling history by winning the road race at the Centrocaribes in San Salvador on Friday, for her ninth medal in the history of the regional competitions.
Star of the famous Movistar club of Spain, Arlenis ratified her class and became the first cyclist to win both road titles in the same edition of the Games, after dominating the individual time trial two days ago.
Now she has won 6 gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in three participations in the regional games, both on the road and on the track.
This Friday she covered the 109 km in a circuit in Jerusalem Avenue, in 2 hours and 52 minutes and 13 seconds, to beat in the sprint the Venezuelan Lilibeth Chacón (silver) and the Guatemalan Jazmin Soto (bronze).
The Cuban had to discount in the last km about 1 minute that the Mexican Barrera, who after being absorbed fell to 17th place.
"I felt quite tired since I left, I've had the flu for about three days, but it was the last race and I had to give everything," Arlenis told reporters after the demanding race.
She added that it was "quite complicated" her success, because "the Mexicans and Colombians ran as a team and my teammates were already a little tired from the middle of the race. I knew that I could be alone at the end of the race, but I trusted a lot in God... and I was able to respond to all the attacks (of the rivals). I didn't feel in a position to attack and go alone, because I didn't have the strength".
She was proud to represent her country again and recalled that she asked Movistar to defend the colors of Cuba in San Salvador, instead of participating in the Giro d'Italia.
"It is something that is in the contract and I am always willing to compete for Cuba whenever the Federation needs me," she stressed.
Arlenis' was the fourth crown of Cuban cycling on the road in regional events, after those won by Madelín Jorge in Maracaibo-98, Yoanka González in Cartagena-2006 and Marlies Mejías in Veracruz-2014.
