{"id":106934,"date":"2016-01-31T23:11:40","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T06:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fort-lewis-sofia-gomez-villafane-sees-top-20-result-at-uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships\/"},"modified":"2016-01-31T23:11:40","modified_gmt":"2016-02-01T06:11:40","slug":"fort-lewis-sofia-gomez-villafane-sees-top-20-result-at-uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/fort-lewis-sofia-gomez-villafane-sees-top-20-result-at-uci-cyclo-cross-world-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Fort Lewis\u2019 Sofia Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e sees top 20 result at UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Fort
Fort Lewis College cyclist Sofia Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e took her abilities to the world championships and proved herself with a top-20 finish at the cyclo-cross world championships in Belgium.<\/span>Durango Herald file photo (2014)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

A race marred with controversy provided the stage for one special Fort Lewis College cyclist to excel in front of a global audience.<\/p>\n

After winning the USA Cycling Collegiate Cyclo-Cross Nationals race Jan. 8 in North Carolina and placing second in the under-23 women\u2019s race two days later, Fort Lewis\u2019 Sofia Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e qualified for the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.<\/p>\n

Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e was able to raise enough money to make the trip with the help of her parents and the Durango cycling community, and she took to the course Saturday with no expectations. But the 22-year-old from Argentina shined through the rain and mud on a tough course and finished 19th overall.<\/p>\n

It was the first women\u2019s U23 cyclo-cross world championship race ever held.<\/p>\n

\u201cI went into this race thinking it was a bonus race since I had not planned on attending,\u201d Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e said in an email interview with The Durango Herald. \u201cI was for sure making time up in the technical sections, which helped a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

The race was won by 19-year-old Evie Richards of Great Britain. She finished in 41 minutes, 34 seconds. Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e finished in 45:40 and was thankful for no mechanical failures that found so many other competitors.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt ended up being a very tough course because all the rain made the course extremely physically demanding,\u201d Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e said. \u201cFor our race, the conditions had not changed things too much aside from having a little more mud present. Everything was still rideable except for the big hill climb that came after the steep run up, that section became a full on run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e, who has been coached by Durangoan and internationally successful professional cyclist Carmen Small over the last year as well as the Fort Lewis College coaches, represented Argentina in the race. She is originally from Patagonia and cherished the chance to represent her home country, though it may have been for the first and last time. Her sister, Caro Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e also was competing at the world championships, making the weekend even more special for the whole family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that this will be my only time representing Argentina since I think that I will start my papers with the UCI to have them accept and recognize my American nationality,\u201d she said. \u201cI do not think I could have been able to come to race if (Caro) had not been here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The race wasn\u2019t completed without controversy. European champion Femke Van den Driessche of the host nation Belgium is under investigation for a technological fraud after her bike was inspected one lap into the race. A motor was found on the bike.<\/p>\n

International Cycling Union off-road manager Peter Van Den Abeele said his control commissioners noticed a suspicious bike during the women\u2019s U23 race and immediately tested it for fraudulent use of technology to artificially increase speed.<\/p>\n

Even though Van Den Abeele refused to name the rider, the Belgian team Rudy De Bie told VRT network it was a rider of the host nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we will look further into this case. For the UCI, it is the first time that we see such technological fraud. It is a setback for us,\u201d Van Den Abeele told VRT.<\/p>\n

It was a disappointing turn for a country that loves cyclo-cross.<\/p>\n

\u201cRacing at Zolder is a very unique experience,\u201d Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e said. \u201cI learned that a part of the course was sacred and therefore no spectators could be there, only the races were allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gomez-Villafa\u00f1e said she will take a little bit of time off her bike before beginning training for mountain bike season. She will compete for Summit Bike Club\u2019s competitive team based out of Utah this summer and will participate in some professional cross-country races as well as nationals.<\/p>\n

She said Saturday\u2019s top-20 finish has inspired her to further chase a career in cycling.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that having a finish like this gives me more motivation to keep training and really give cycling a full try,\u201d she said. \u201cThe last four years I have been focusing on school, working, and just really learning how to actually ride a bike while attending Fort Lewis. I think next year I will be able to see some big improvements since I will have more time to train and hopefully will be a part of a team with support to be able to race the professional calendar.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

jlivingston@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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