Road cyclist Lotta Henttala, 34, celebrated a stage win after a long time.
Lotta Henttala cruised to a great victory in the first stage of the road cycling world tour in Burgos, Spain. Austria was second in the 120-kilometer race Carina Schrempf and the third of the Netherlands Lorena Wiebes.
For the 34-year-old Henttala, who competes in the EF Education-Cannondale team, the stage win is the first in many years.
The experienced athlete was surprised by the perfect hit. She became a mother a few years ago.
– Now it feels like I’ve gotten in good shape. It was wonderful to win after a long time and even at this level. I knew there was a good chance for a podium. However, the victory made me feel really relieved, Henttala is happy.
Henttala thanks his teammates.
– The wind affected quite a lot at the end. I got help from others in that I didn’t have to fight alone for a place at the top.
On the final straight, several cyclists collided with each other.
– I saw that it was swaying in the background. I started the kir so that I wouldn’t get involved, Henttala repeats.
There will be three more stage races on the tour. All are the same size (120 km).
– There are hilly stages for which we have better drivers than me. There is one possible thread pin where you might be able to make a result. It’s quite windy here, which suits me well. Let’s try to make a good result as a team.
Fierce competition for the Paris ticket
There is an exciting situation in Finnish road cycling, as Finland has two strong candidates for women’s road cycling at the Paris Olympics. There is only one country.
In addition to Henttala, a young man longs for a place in Paris Anniina Ahtosalo, which has been in a great mood in the spring. The 20-year-old road cyclist rode to his first international UCI race victory at the beginning of May.
Director of the Olympic Committee’s sport and competition programs Leena Paavolainen previously told that the choice is basically made between Ahtosalo and Henttala.
Top sports representative of the Olympic Committee Toni Roponen responsible for road cycling in the Olympic Committee. He says that both athletes have been successful in the spring.
– This was Lotta’s best performance of the season. The sports management constantly analyzes what kind of competitions the results are in and how they correspond to the Paris Olympics. Top sport is very simple. In tough competitions, tough screens are always noteworthy.
In principle, the cycling federation will make a proposal to the board of the Olympic Committee in two weeks about which athlete it will present to Paris.
– At the end of May, the aim is to get selected, so that the chosen athlete can focus on the Olympics for two months. It’s great that we have a competitive setup, Roponen adds.
Henttala himself does not take pressure on who will be selected for the games.
– I don’t make those choices. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t get there. There are other competitions, Henttala says.