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Toms Skujiņš delivered one other robust efficiency within the males’s highway race on the UCI Highway World Championships in Kigali the place he completed fifth, for his third high 10 end in three years, after claiming fourth final 12 months in Zurich and eighth in Glasgow the prior 12 months.
The 34-year-old Latvian rider knew that it will be a tough race, relishing the problem as he focused a podium end. And brutal it was, as solely 30 riders out of 165 starters completed the race. Everybody anticipated defending champion Tadej Pogačar to launch his transfer on Mount Kigali, and the Slovenian delivered, powering away to say one other solo victory.
“World Championships are all the time particular, however this 12 months was further. Further laborious and additional brutal, however fortunately had the perfect squad by my facet. Latvian biking positively hitting above it is weight and that makes me proud!” Skujiņš shared on social media.
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“fifth is the perfect I might have executed at the moment, so I’ll take it. Positively gonna bear in mind this 12 months.”
Skujiņš discovered himself in chase teams, which shaped and splintered till three riders have been in a position to draw back to battle it out for the remaining two spots on the rostrum. Finally, he crossed the road 6:41 behind the winner for fifth place, six seconds forward of a gaggle with Giulio Ciccone (Italy), Isaac Del Toro (Mexico) and Juan Ayuso (Spain).
“It was a triathlon in the long run, I feel all people completed by themselves, however clearly it was going to be laborious very laborious race. I did not see a lot however clearly Tadej was on a stage, however not many have the legs to observe him, and he simply confirmed that he is the perfect on this planet but once more,” he informed media, together with CyclingProNet, within the combined zone.
“For myself, as soon as I used to be within the group the place I used to be, I attempted to do the perfect I can, however all of the medals are gone sadly.”
When requested to touch upon the truth that the highest 10 within the race have been all climbers, Skujiņš quipped, “I feel I am the world champion 70+ class, 70 kilos plus, so I am going to take that.”
In line with their respective commerce groups, Pogačar (UAE Staff Emirates) weighs 66kg, whereas silver medallist Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-Quickstep) is 63kg, and sixth-placed Del Toro and seventh-placed Ayuso (each UAE Staff Emirates) are 64kg and 65kg, respectively.
After the gruelling 267.5km race of attrition, when requested if he was emotional, Skujiņš replied: “I am simply drained, however it was a superb race anyway.”
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