|
|
Sunday, September 24
Martinez's late move pays off
Associated Press
FAIRFIELD, Australia -- Miguel Martinez is a little guy who
leaves everyone gasping to catch up. That includes the Americans,
who ate everyone's dust all day long.
The 5-foot-5, 115-pound Martinez, of France, added an Olympic
gold medal Sunday to the one he claimed three months ago at the
mountain bike world championships.
Martinez took control late in the sixth lap, passing silver
medalist Filip Meirhaeghe of Belgium. Then he steadily pulled away
from the field, adding a gold medal to the bronze he won in
Atlanta.
Martinez was timed in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 2 seconds, more than a
minute ahead of Meirhaeghe. Christoph Sauser of Switzerland got the
bronze.
Tinker Juarez of Downey, Calif., finished 30th, more than 13
minutes behind Martinez. Travis Brown of Boulder, Colo., came in
less than one minute later in 32nd place.
The Americans started at the back of the pack and never made up
any significant ground. Frischknecht opened a breakneck pace, and
each time the leaders made a lap, Juarez and Brown were nowhere
near.
"When you start in the front row, you get to set the pace,"
Juarez said. "When you're sitting in the back choking dust all day
long, it's no fun."
The riders were slotted at the start according to their world
rankings. That meant Juarez, ranked 52nd, started 32nd among 49
riders. Brown, ranked 84th, started in the 39th position.
Too far back to make any difference.
"I raced my best but when I wasn't able to move up on the first
loop I knew it was going to be a long day," Juarez said.
The low world rankings stemmed from Brown missing much of the
World Cup season with a broken shin and Juarez having too many
inconsistent performances. At the Olympics, it was too much to
overcome.
"It's a very technical course," Brown said. "You have to be
really dialed in to carry your momentum around the course."
The chances of establishing any momentum from the back of the
pack are poor. Juarez was frustrated and Brown was happy to get off
his bike.
"On the good days, this is the best job in the world," said
Brown, who races professionally for the Trek-Volkswagen trade team.
"On the bad days, it's absolutely no fun at all."
Martinez, on the other hand, seemed to have a great time.
As he rode into the finish chute, Martinez held up a toy
kangaroo wrapped in a French flag and waved to the crowd. Then he
hoisted his bike triumphantly and pumped his fist in the air.
"I'm very, very happy today. I'm the world champion. I'm the
Olympic champion," said Martinez, whose father, Mariano Martinez,
was a famous French road racer in the 1970s.
Frischknecht set a grueling pace through the first five laps,
completing each 4.2-mile lap in under 20 minutes. He finished sixth
after fading early in the sixth lap.
Meirhaeghe took advantage, passing Frischknecht for a brief
lead. But Martinez seemed ready to strike after riding with the
pack for several laps. He was lurking just behind the Belgian, and
the little guy then zipped ahead for good.
|  | |
|
