Cyclist Ricardo Marineiro took second place in the European MTB knockout this Friday, losing gold at the finish line at the Tamengos circuit in Anadia to Slovenia’s Jakob Klemencic.
“I have mixed feelings. I thought about a medal, which hasn’t happened since I was runner-up in the World Junior Championships 12 years ago. Getting back on the podium, especially in the elite category, It’s incredible. It still has more flair.” to happen in Portugal, with the support of the public.It gives a lot of extra “watts” – Marineiro rejoiced.
The Portuguese even led at the finish line, but was overtaken at the very end, in a competition in which the Romanian Edekaroli Molnar took bronze, beating the Portuguese Bruno Silva, who took fourth place.
“In the final race I knew I had to start really well and I led the whole race. a wheel on the last stretch would be difficult. I gave what I had and I don’t regret anything. I wanted a medal and I managed to get it,” Marineiro concluded.
Coach Pedro Vigario named Portugal’s “two greats” as one of the four strongest and was delighted at the confirmation of “hope for a medal”.
Portugal were also eighth in the mixed relay (XRC), 3.01 minutes behind the gold of the Netherlands, who were isolated for the second of six laps, with the Portuguese team consisting of Ricardo Marineiro, Mariana Libano, Joao Cruz, Joana Monteiro, Artur Mendonça and Raquel Queiroz.
“We performed very well as a team. It was our best participation in this discipline. We were very united in the fight for first place until the last lap, which is new for us, and I hope that this will motivate our riders, ”Pedro Vigario praises.
The weekend will host the Olympic Cross Country (XCO) and 12 runners will take part in Portugal on the track, namely Artur Mendonza, Eduardo Rodriguez, Francisco Silvestre, Guilherme Barros, Rafael Souza and Thomas Gaspar, as well as Beatriz Souza. Catarina Lopez, Iris Chagas, Laura Simao, Mariana Libano and Marta Carvalho.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
