Vallieres conquers the rainbow in the Kigali World Championships

Magdeleine Vallieres is the new world road champion. The Canadian finished off a tactical display on the Kigali circuit to take the gold ahead of Niamh Fisher-Black (+10s) and Mavi García (+15s), who at 41 years old, the oldest in the World Championships, achieved a historic medal for Spain after more than two decades without stepping onto the podium in the women's elite.

Vallieres conquers the World and Mavi García takes the bronze

The race was decided in the final stretch with the cobblestones and the climb to Côte de Kimihurura as the judge. With 21 km to go, Mavi lit the fuse with an attack that selected the leading group alongside Fisher-Black and Vallieres. The New Zealander tried first, the Canadian responded with cool blood, and the Spaniard stood firm. In the last ascent, Vallieres changed the definitive pace and flew towards the finish line to take the victory. Fisher-Black held on for silver and Mavi, colossal, secured the bronze with authority.

Until then, the day had been pure wear and tear. Austrian Carina Schrempf livened up the first part in the breakaway; Netherlands and Italy had several attempts with Shirin van Anrooij and Elisa Longo Borghini; and the good break finally came together when key pieces like Antonia Niedermaier, Riejanne Markus, or Elise Chabbey joined. Spain raced with personality: Mireia Benito was in the moves that set the pace and Mavi saved the blow just for the end.

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The top-5 was completed by Chabbey (+23s) and Markus (+25s) after an electric finish where there was no room for doubt. Vallieres took the rainbow in the first World Championships held in Africa and Mavi García takes a medal that consecrates her as a legend of Spanish sport and rewards a courage with no expiration date.