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Marianne Vos wins the women's points race on Monday. [Xinhua] |
Marianne Vos of the Netherlands broke Briton's domination on the cycling track by winning the women's points race at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Monday.
The 21-year old world champion dominated the race well and became the only rider to overlap the peloton, collecting a total of 30 points for the gold.
"A couple of laps before the end I knew (I would win). All the attacks stranded at half a lap. Winning the gold is wonderful." Vos said.
She pumped her fist and let out a shriek after crossing the finish line to win the first cycling gold at Beijing Games for the Netherlands.
Vos, the first woman to have won world championships in road, track and cross country mountain bike, was satisfied with her first Olympic gold.
"I knew track was completely different. I didn't feel bad in the Road Race or the Time Trial. It felt good in training so I had confidence for this." She said.
The race featured a crash in the early stage, which forced Sarah Hammer of the United States, Japanese Satomi Wadami and Verena Jooss of Germany all withdraw from the race.
"The crash was early in the race and after 20 laps. I was just able to gain a lap at the right moment. Then I tried to recover." added Vos.
The silver medal was taken by Cuban Yoanka Gonzalez with 18 points, while the bronze medal went to Leire Olaberria of Spain in 13 points.
"The strategy for the last laps was to save everything for the final sprint. I had to work a little to control the final sprint. I gave everything I had. I had nothing more to give. I was totally spent." explained Gonzalez for her silver run.
Chinese Li Yan amassed six points to earn a 10th place finishing with an outstanding first-place run in the 50th lap.
Britain's Rebecca Romero, who triumphed in the women's individual pursuit last Sunday, finished 11th in just the second points race she has competed in.
The women's cycling points race is a complex 100-lap event where riders get points awarded in sprints every 10th lap around the velodrome.
On the sprint laps, five points are awarded for first place, three for second, two for third and, one for fourth and the rider with the most points wins the race.
Britain dominated the track by winning four golds so far.
(Xinhua News Agency August 18, 2008)
