MARELA Salamat lived up to her billing as the country’s top female rider by bagging the bronze behind double-gold medal winner Romy Kasper of Germany on Friday in the World University Cyling Championships in Tagaytay City.
Salamat, gold medal winner in the women’s individual time trial of the Singapore Southeast Asian Games in June last year, could have clinched the silver, but yielded in a sprint battle with Poland’s Nikol Plofaj in the 80-kilometer race won easily by Kasper.
Kasper, virtually led all the way from the Nasugbu start to the Tagaytay City finish in front of the Tagaytay International Convention Center clocking 2:42:48 over a highly technical course.
Plofaj was afar second with four minutes and 12 seconds behind Kasper who completed a Germany sweep in the women’s road events of the discipline conducted by the Le Tour de Filipinas organizer Donna Lina in the women’s criterium at Canyon Woods on Thursday.
Salamat, fresh from her stint in a UCI race in Vietnam, was a mere second behind to settle for the bronze medal.
“Pinilit kong kunin ang silver pero naipit ako ng magrematehan,” said Salamat, who complemented the gold medal won by another Filipino, boots Ryan Cayubit in men’s criterium also on Thursday at Canyon Woods.
Twenty-six cyclists from 12 countries answered the gun but half of them completed the race. Among those who did not finish were the entire Korea team (three members) and China (four).
Salamat’s teammate Avegail Rombaon finished 27 minutes behind while Ana Katrina Angelo rode the Sag Wagon.
