Dutch racer sprints to gold at cycling worlds
Last Updated: Saturday, September 23, 2006 | 6:14 PM ET
CBC Sports
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women's road race Saturday at the world cycling championships in Salzburg, Austria.
The Dutch racer outsprinted German Trixi Worrack to win the 132.9-kilometre event in three hours, 20.26 seconds.
Britain's Nicole Cooke earned the bronze medal, edging Noemi Cantele of Italy at the finish line.
Dutch rider Marianne Vos celebrates after winning the women's road race title Saturday at the world cycling championships in Salzburg, Austria.
(Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)
Canadian champion Alexandra Wrubleski of Regina finished 23rd, two minutes and seven seconds behind the leader.
Vos, winner of the European road championships and cyclo-cross world title this season, surged ahead during the dramatic last lap to defeat her German rival.
"It is hard to believe. I'm only 19 years old," said the 2004 junior world champion.
Vos became the focal point of the Dutch team after Miriam Melchers suffered an injury during a crash in a race last month.
Cooke won her third career world medal, but the British cyclist had expected a better result.
A favourite heading into the race, Cooke is the No. 1 ranked road cyclist and the current World Cup champion.
With files from the Associated Press
