Catalina Soto Campos will represent Chile at the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo. The 20-year old hear she was going to take up the one available spot in the women’s road race while she was racing with the national federation in the Basque Country this week.
I still can’t believe it, I slept on it and I all I can think of is everyone that helped me since the beginning. I wish I could be with everyone one of them, thank them and give them a hug. This is a special journey and I have the right people around me to go on the right path and make the most of it.
Soto Campos raced with the national team in two hard and very wet Basque races. She came in 25th in the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar and 33th in Durango-Durango. These are two excellent results in a world class field where seven of the nine World Tour teams lined up.
I’m super proud to be here representing my country but also over the moon to be doing it with five other Chileans, dreams come true! I’m amazed by how they ride in the peloton and how strong they are as they come from Chile where there’s no racing and it’s hard to train. I’m super proud to be Chilean and to be racing alongside these awesome group.
Chile only has one spot at the Olympics road race where a peloton of only 67 women got qualified. The race takes place on Sunday 25 July. The course is 137 kilometres long and features one long climb and a flat finish on the Fuji motor racing circuit.
I want to make the most of this adventure. I will work hard and be at my best but also be able to enjoy, learn and love it to the fullest. It’s an opportunity that I have dreamed of before and going for it at 20years old is just a dream come true.”