• Submitted by: admin
• Sports
• 02 / 01 / 2007

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By Oscar Sanchez

Cuban cycling is at a highpoint at the end of January. The female racers are now ranked ninth among the top 48 countries after the three championship phases in Sydney (November, 2006), Moscow (December) and Los Angles (January 2007).

The accomplishment is especially significant taking into account that Cuba was not present at the first phase in the Australian city.

The ranking among the top ten is due to the performances of three female athletes, Lisandra Guerra, Yoanka Gonzalez and Yumari Gonzalez, who together accumulated two gold, three silver and two bronze medals.

Lisandra, with two gold medals at the 500 meter time trial and a silver in sprint, leads the ranking in the first and is sixth in the second, positions that assure her presence in both trials at the upcoming World Championship in Palma de Mallorca, Spain (March 29 - April 1). The woman from Matanzas also has a place in the team trials with Yumari as they are ranked seventh in team pursuit.

Yoanka is second in the ranking by points racing and ninth in the scratch, giving her a chance to compete in both events. Meanwhile, Yumari is ranked fifth in the scratch.

The fourth and last leg of the World Cycling Cup takes place in Manchester, England on February 23 to 25. The Cubans hope to consolidate their positions in this complex, expensive and elitist sport.

The Cuban mens track cycling team has participated in the World Cycling Cup but its results were considerably less than the womens team. Unable to rank among the top 14 teams, they will not be present at Palma de Mallorca. Instead, efforts will be aimed at improving for this years Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.