Stevens retires on high, team claims world title
American Evelyn Stevens will head into retirement with a fourth world title after helping Boels Dolmans to women’s team timetrial victory at at the World Championships in Qatar yesterday. Boels Dolemans, who also include reigning road race world champion Lizzie Deignan (formerly Armistead) and fourtimes world champion Ellen van Dijk, brushed away the opposition to finish the 40km course in 48mins 41.62secs. That was almost a minute ahead of their nearest rivals, Germans Canyon Sram Racing, who finished in 49:29.86.
Americans Twenty-16-Ridebiker, the first team out on the course, which started in Lusail where the 2022 football World Cup final will be played, finished third. It was a sweet end for Stevens, 33, who was also part of the winning teams in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
“I came into this season knowing this was my last race, it’s nice to have a goal and it makes it very special to win,” she told AFP. She now plans to return to Wall Street and work in finance, where she previously worked before cycling professionally. The race was held in sweltering conditions, where the temperature reached as high as 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Prior to the championships beginning, organisers had announced they would consider shortening races because of the heat, though yesterday’s event went the full planned distance.
The race also featured a spectacular crash involving Anouska Koster from the Netherlands, riding for Raboliv, who ploughed into a barrier and had to pull out of the race. The championships run until October 16, with the men’s team trial event taking place later yesterday.—