23 Aug PATXI CIA MASTER40 WORLD CHAMPION OF MOUNTAIN BIKE WITH ISB SPORT!
The French resort of Pra Loup has hosted the UCI Master MTB World Championships.
Patxi Cia, ISB Sport ambassador, participated at the most important event of the year at the peak of an incredible career: three-time European champion and runner-up in the 2019 XCO at M40 category. But he still lacked the most precious icing on the cake to complete his sports career, the highest drawer of the podium to wear the rainbow jersey of the world champion.
At 8am on Sunday, August 22, the 80 participants of the M40 category were given the start in a 5km circuit, where they had to complete 4 laps. The Navarrese rider of the ISB Sport team quickly placed himself in the top positions and set a devilish pace to escape from the rest of the participants: that kind of race that Cia always dreamed finally came true.
The Navarrese rider fulfilled his dream of being able to wear the rainbow jersey. “I see the jersey in the room and I still can’t believe it. It’s incredible what I have achieved, ”Cia said few hours after winning the gold medal.
“Today we have competed with the best grid in the world. We were the best ”, confirmed the Navarrese cyclist praising the level of his opponents in the race. “I have distanced myself in the first lap and throughout the whole track I have run only with the best sensations of my entire sporting career,” he said.
The podium of M40 category has been completed by the French cyclist Thibaut Vassal and the Italian cyclist Alberto Riva.
1- Patxi Cia (ESP) 1:24:40
2- Thibaut Vassal (FRA) 1:25:05
3- Alberto Riva (ITA) 1:25:20