Arlenis Sierra in Flanders finale

Havana, March 25 (JIT) - Cuban Arlenis Sierra had another outstanding performance in the World Cycling Tour, finishing sixth in the Gent-Wevelgem Cycling Classic, in Flanders, Belgium.

After 171.1 kilometers of cycling, the Cuban Movistar rider was only ahead of the Dutch Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx), winner with 4:16.19 hours; the Italians Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) and Chiara Consonni (UAE-ADQ); Charlotte Kool, from the Netherlands (DSM), and Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Uno-X), also from Italy.

The main peloton of 39 riders, which included two of Arlenis' teammates in the Spanish team, Dutch rider Floortje Mackaij (18th) and Danish rider Emma Norsgaard (35th), arrived with a similar time.

Another group crossed the finish line three minutes and 29 seconds behind in the demanding race, one of the longest of this season, which imposed challenges such as elevations, strong wind and repeated cobblestone sections.

A total of 89 riders crossed the finish line and more than 50 failed to finish the course.

"I finished well, but in reality it was a competition in which we had to bend down a lot because there was too much air. That required us to expend a lot of energy needed for the finish," the Cuban champion told JIT.

Sierra pointed out that they will remain in Belgium this coming week, because she has new commitments on Wednesday and Sunday, preparatory for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Manzanillo-born cyclist has participated in 11 elite races this year and has accumulated several placements in the top ten.