Aussies Buchanan and Willoughby take gold and silver in BMX world titles
CAROLINE Buchanan has claimed her second world BMX time trial title with a super performance in Colombia while Sam Willoughby took silver in the men’s race.
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AUSTRALIAN BMX cycling ace Caroline Buchanan has claimed the women’s world time trial title for a second time while countryman Sam Willoughby took silver in the men’s event.
Buchanan won by 0.301 seconds from Dutch star Laura Smulders on Saturday with reigning world champion Mariana Pajon of Colombia third.
Willoughby, the London Olympics BMX silver medallist, finished second in the men’s time trial behind Niek Kimmann of the Netherlands with two-time Olympic gold medallist Maris Strombergs of Latvia third.
The world championships also double as the selection event for the Australian Olympic team and the time trial result sent a clear message of Buchanan’s intent to qualify for her second Olympics when the elite women’s and men’s races are contested on Sunday.
“Coming into the last Olympic Games in London I had won the world time trial in Birmingham and it was a massive confidence booster,” Buchanan said.
“Yesterday in practice I had a bit of a rough time, and almost pulled the pin early on in the session due to close calls with crashes, but my coach Wade Bootes told me to write it off and said make sure Caroline turns up tomorrow.
“This track is quite technical and I had a few little mistakes in my qualifying lap, so knew I had room to improve for the final, which I did.” “That’s my sixth world title overall, and I am honoured to be pulling on the rainbow world champion’s jersey again.
“I am dialled into the track now and ready for tomorrow.” \In the men’s time trial it was reigning world champion Strombergs of Latvia who looked to be holding the aces after riding to provisional first place late in the session.
Unintimidated, Willoughby came through to shave two tenths of a second off the Latvian’s time to claim the provisional lead, until Kiemmann beat the time to the tune of 0.037 seconds.
Originally published as Aussies Buchanan and Willoughby take gold and silver in BMX world titles
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