Good performance from Cuba
in Pan American women’s cycling championships

Ariel B. Coya

BASED on endurance and patience, Arlenis Sierra and Marlies Mejías took gold and silver in the Pan American Road Championships, in the Mexican city of Zacatecas, placing Cuba on the medals podium alongside other strong competitors from the continent.

This achievement from two young, very young, cyclists - both will reach their 21st birthdays next December - highlights the undeniable potential of Cuban female cyclists to follow in the footsteps of the two Olympic and World Championship medalists, Yoanka and Yumari González.

Arlenis, who already shone two years ago in the Pan American trials in Guadalajara in 2011 (alongside Yumari and Yudelmis Domínguez in fact), proved that win was no fluke. While Marlies made it clear that she is equally at ease with track or road events, after competing in the omnium in the London 2012 Olympics.

Neither woman was daunted when the racers began to spread out on the sixth of La Bufa’s eight laps. They kept pulling away from the group in the last few meters, in an agonizing head to head, culminating with Arlenis completing the 77.44 kilometer race in 2:35:13 hours.

One second later Marlies crossed the finish line, despite the difficulties the mountain stretch caused the 44 cyclists who started the race (13 withdrew) and despite being followed by the experienced Venezuelan, Angie González, and the superfast Mexican, Ingrid Drexel, the great favorite and gold medalist in timed trials on Friday (May 3).

A satisfying outcome and great team work, adding to Cuba’s first-rate successes, lead by Lisandra Guerra, in the Pan American track event in February, with seven gold medals, four silvers and two bronze. They keep on rolling.