THE SERBIAN FROM MOVISTAR TEAM IS ON THE VERGE OF CROWNING A MAGNIFICENT RACE FOR HER FOUR TEAMMATES, WHO DOMINATED ALL PHASES OF THE EVENT AND FORMED A REAL ‘TRAIN’ FOR THEIR LEADER IN WALLONIA.
There were only five, but they seemed twenty-five. Movistar Team did not show its numerical inferiority at all compared to the more than twenty squads registered this Monday in the Ronde de Mouscron (UCI 1.1). The Walloon afterparty of the Tour of Flanders held yesterday, and was only one step away from conquering a new triumph with the Serbian Jelena Erić, who was 2nd behind Chiara Consonni (VAL) in the inevitable sprint on the Belgian circuit (121 km, 10 laps).
Gloria Rodríguez, Alba Teruel, Alicia González and Sara Martín (7th), in their second stint with the telephone companies – divided the work, chasing the breaks masterfully throughout the day. Without ever consolidating a lead break. This, on a demanding day because of the weather, with cold, wind and several sections of rain and even hail.
In the last kilometres, the women led by DS Pablo Lastras got together and launched the sprint for Jelena one by one. Eric was on the verge of her first success with a Movistar Team that she has, for just over a year, been one of their ‘wild cards’, capable of performing on any terrain.
STATEMENTS / Jelena Erić:
“At the finish line, I was a bit angry for not having won, but I am by no means disappointed with the result. Yesterday was a beautiful and very tough day, winning in Flanders with Annemiek, and today was another great day, even though it was not possible to win. Yes, it is true that at first the legs did not go as well as I wanted, the fatigue was noticeable, but then we have already gained temperature and I have ended up feeling good.
The teammates have been great all day and it has been a really good launch, but I was a little lonely perhaps too soon and I had to launch at about 300 metres because if I did not go for it, everyone could pass me and it would have been worse. The whole team has worked very hard to fight for this victory and I am very proud of what they have done today”.
Cover image (c): Photo Gomez Sport