Madrid/The Cuban cyclist Marlies Mejías won the gold medal this Saturday in the time trial of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, after completing the test with a time of 40:15.79.
The multi-award winning Mejías covered the first 10 kilometers in 13:00.37 and the last 20 kilometers in 26:36.06.
The 33-year-old cyclist from Artemisa has an extensive record that includes the silver medal at the 2015 Toronto Pan American Games and the gold at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz. In addition, she has won several medals in Pan American and Central American cycling championships.
The athlete dedicated the victory to the Cuban people and her family.
“I feel that I can still achieve an Olympic medal. We have risen from 60th place to the top 10 in the world, although we need support because the country does not score points”
After temporarily stepping away from cycling to be a mother, Mejías returned to compete and keeps the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games as her goal. The rider is confident in her chances of getting a medal and highlighted the rise of her discipline in the world ranking, although she asked for greater support: “I feel like I can still achieve an Olympic medal. We have risen from 60th place to the top 10 in the world, although we need support because the country does not score points. But it is possible,” she told the official press.
The silver went to the Mexican Sara Roel, with a time of 40:33.53, and the bronze went to the Trinidad and Tobago cyclist Teniel Campbell, with a time of 40:59.31.
Roel, from Mexico, is also a triathlete and competes with a rare disease known as panhypopituitarism. Three years ago he underwent head surgery.
The Trinidadian Campbell won a gold medal and three others at the Barranquilla 2018 event and is the first female cyclist from her country to compete in the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020).
In fourth and fifth places were the Colombians Diana Peñuela (41:42.26) and Lina Hernández (41:47.33).
