Arlenis Sierra

Havana, May 16 (JIT) - Cuban Arlenis Sierra won her third title in the main event of the Pan American Road Cycling Championships, winning in the long-distance race at the event held in San Juan, Argentina.

29 years old and one of the stars of the famous Movistar club, the Cuban imposed her mastery in a massive sprint and was escorted on the podium by the Chilean Catalina Soto and the Uruguayan Fabiana Andrea.

Arlenis Sierra set a time of 2:21.30 hours in the 91.5 kilometers of the course, to repeat her 2018 victory.

In the last kilometers she put the extra and discounted an advantage of 19 seconds that two breakaways took from her.

Four other cyclists competed for Cuba, six seconds behind the winner arrived Aylena Quevedo (25th place) and Claudia Baró (29th), and two minutes behind Marlies Mejías (41st) and Yudelmis (42nd).

"I am very happy with the result, I thank all my teammates and God because He gave me the strength I always ask Him for. We did a very good job, a collective work like never before. I am very happy, I believe that the triumph is not mine, it is mainly theirs", declared Arlenis after the triumph.

The Cuban cycling star also dedicated her triumph to those who died in the Saratoga Hotel accident. "Cuba is going through a very big pain. I hope this triumph gives their families and friends, everyone, a little bit of joy," said Arlenis Sierra.

Cuba's women's cycling secured two tickets to San Salvador 2023 at the Pan American, national cycling commissioner Pablo Arturo Campins told JIT.