Chloe Dygert considered abandoning midway through Saturday's UCI Road World Championships Elite Women's Road Race, but she overcame doubts about her form with determination and determination.
Dygert struggled to get back to the front several times in the final two laps. She kicked to the left just as the final winner, Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), began her sprint to the right, but did not have the power to match the defending champion.
“Before the race, I didn't think this was going to happen, but I'm happy to have won the silver medal, although I'm a little angry that it wasn't gold,” Dygert told Cycling News and other media after the race.
“I almost didn't want to start today, given my results this year and my mental state this week. I feel very blessed with my home country and the support I have here. Without them, I don't think I would have been able to start.”
Daigert is known for her winning mentality, but she admitted that she was hurt by another tough season.
She suffered a serious leg injury at the 2020 Imola World Championships that required months of recovery and follow-up surgery. She also contracted the Epstein-Barr virus and underwent heart surgery to treat years of tachycardia.
Daigert won a bronze medal despite crashing in the Paris Olympics time trial, and won the Olympic title in the women's team pursuit the following week despite crashing again in the women's road race, all at great cost to the 27-year-old American athlete.
“This is not an excuse, but I don't know myself why this whole year. It's just that my normal power and training routine can hurt my body.
“I'm not getting the power I can and should be getting out of training. I can't just trash myself or turn myself inside out when I'm done training and racing.”
“I don't know if I have a mental block for the last four years. I've taken so much time off due to injury, but when I do take time off, it's always because of injury or illness. I need to mentally rest, reset, recharge, and focus on the upcoming season."
[18Dygert will be able to enter the off-season knowing that he gave it his all in Zurich despite the terrible conditions.
“Lotte Kopecky is one of the best sprinters. She's good at sprinting and I'm not so good,” Dygert admitted.
“Elisa [Longo Borghini] went, and I was behind Kopecký. I was behind Kopecký because Elisa [Longo Borghini] went and I was behind Kopecký. I knew I had enough time.“In the final, it was just downhill for me. I rode my pace and when I caught up, I caught up. I really appreciate it. [29] [30] “Now I just have to work on the downhill. I've slipped and fallen many times and after the accident I still have a lot of fear. I hate to admit it, but it's there.
“It's something I have to overcome. I finally got my tire pressure adjusted and I hope to have it perfect by next year
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