In a rain-soaked Zurich, Cat Ferguson claimed the junior women’s road race world title, adding to her earlier victory in the time trial. The British rider came out on top in a wild, action-packed race that, thanks to its short distance and tough course, was a must-watch. Ferguson’s win completes a stunning World Championship double. We also got a preview of the course’s classic profile, signaling that the elite road races will be grueling battles of endurance.
The route covered two of the local circuits that will be used for Saturday and Sunday’s races, where riders like Demi Vollering and Mathieu van der Poel will compete. Before that, the race featured rolling hills, with German and British riders pushing the pace early on. The challenging climbs quickly caused trouble for much of the peloton, with riders from Turkey and Mexico dropping off right away.
Rain, crashes, and aggressive tactics thin the peloton quickly
In the pouring rain, Megan Arens led the charge as the peloton began to splinter on the first steep climb. Only about 15 riders were still in the main group with 45 kilometers to go. An unusual crash during the climb caused even more splits. At the top, instead of a downhill, the riders faced a tough false flat, with the pace remaining high and multiple attacks thinning the lead group even further.
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After the first climb, just eight riders remained, including Cat Ferguson, who had already secured the time trial world title earlier in the week. Arens was struggling but managed to hang on. Other notable riders in the lead group included Viktoria Chladonova (Slovakia), Paula Ostiz (Spain), Celia Géry (France), and Imogen Wolff (Great Britain), many of whom had also been at the front two days earlier.
Arens dominates but misses the break in decisive phase
As the riders approached the Bergstrasse, a climb that also promises to create gaps in the men's road race with its steep gradients, the action kicked off again. Some riders caught up during the preceding descent, but they were immediately dropped on the climb. The aftermath of this hill produced a new breakaway group of three: Chladanova, Ferguson, and Ostiz. Arens had been setting a high pace but missed the decisive attack. A disappointment for the Dutch rider, who had been prominently active at the front throughout the rain-soaked race.
The leading trio quickly pulled away, gaining a 50-second advantage. On a slight incline on the plateau, the cooperation between the leaders faltered when Chladanova attempted to prevent a sprint by breaking away. However, the British and Spanish riders quickly closed the gap. The three were simply outstanding and well-matched, with their lead growing until the end, while the chasing group could only battle for fourth place.
Who would take the world title? Ferguson seemed to be the favorite, but the Spaniard Ostiz, competing in her first World Championships as a junior, was still somewhat of an unknown. The long run-up to the sprint between the three turned into a tense spectacle among the time trial specialists. Due to hesitation in the leading group, the chasers came closer, but the gap remained too large for an upset. Ferguson proved to be the strongest in the sprint, which was initiated by Ostiz. Arens finished just a few seconds behind in fourth place after a remarkable performance, closing nearly a minute in the final kilometer. What a race! Chladonova took bronze, and Ostiz finished with the silver.
Results World cycling championship 2024, road race juniors women
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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