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For a second consecutive 12 months, Diana Peñuela (DNA Professional Biking) used a late kick within the closing stretch to the end and sealed one other 12 months because the Colombian highway race nationwide champion. Her win in Bucaramanga got here a day after incomes a silver medal within the particular person time trial, ending 16 seconds behind Lina Marcela Hernández.
In 2022, Peñuela sprinted to her first nationwide title in Pereira after taking a silver (2015), a bronze (2021) and three fourth-place finishes within the highway race previously decade.
“Final 12 months, I put forth nearly a determined psychological and bodily effort after coming so shut for a few years. The plan this 12 months was to have persistence, to know which break and assaults to regulate, and naturally, to mark riders like Paula [Patiño] and Natalia [Franco], who’re very sturdy,” Peñuela stated about her profitable defence of the highway race title towards WorldTour and Continental skills.
“I caught to it, saved a cool head on my shoulders, and every little thing turned out nice.”
The ladies’s circuit race of the Colombian Nationwide Championships on February 3 featured 5 laps up Alto Parqueadero throughout 118.4 kilometres, with a mean gradient of 8%. Peñuela was a part of a decisive breakaway of eight that fashioned on the ultimate lap, and she or he stayed with Patiño (Movistar) and Franco (WCC Crew) amongst a collection of 5 riders headed to the end line collectively. The DNA Professional Biking rider jumped within the closing 50 metres to take the victory simply forward of Patiño.
The route was acquainted, many of the circuit comprising roads used within the closing stage of final season’s Vuelta a Colombia, the place Peñuela completed fourth on the day however took the general title with a string of 4 victories in 4 different phases.
“There may be nothing higher than having the chance to signify the tri-color nationwide champion jersey world wide,” Peñuela stated following her win.
She’ll flash the tri-coloured stripes within the Colombian champion’s jersey to open her season with DNA Professional Biking in March at GP Oetingen in Belgium, adopted by Tour de Normandie in France. She’ll then be a part of the roster for early-season UCI stage racing within the US at Tour of the Gila and Joe Martin Stage Race, the place she completed each races within the GC prime 10 final 12 months. Her 2022 spring marketing campaign included fourth general at Redlands Bicycle Basic in California, however she’s going to decide to compete on the Pan-American Street Championships in Panama in mid-April as a substitute.
“This was my first goal of the season. Not just for my commerce staff but additionally to be a part of the Colombian Nationwide Crew to race within the Pan American video games,” she stated. “I’m trying ahead to an thrilling season with DNA Professional Biking, with upcoming races in the US and Europe. I’m particularly trying ahead to supporting our new younger riders and hopefully serving to them to safe outcomes.”
Now in her eighth professional 12 months of racing, Peñuela begins a second season with US-Continental squad DNA Professional Biking this 12 months and is underneath contract by way of 2024. The staff has a roster of 13 riders this season and can be capable of assist squads in each highway races and US criteriums, together with the American Criterium Cup. The brand new opener for the ACC is April 22 at Athens Twilight Criterium in Georgia, sandwiched between the Gila and Joe Martin stage races.
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