Weighty gold
Van Moorsel wins women's time trial; Longo fails
Posted: Wednesday October 07, 1998 03:16 PM
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Leontien van Moorsel surprised the field after years of weight problems. AP |
VALKENBURG, Netherlands (Reuters) -- Leontien van Moorsel conquered the world again Wednesday after a two-year struggle to beat a weight problem.
As she fingered the elite time trial gold medal -- her first since her third world title in 1993 -- the Dutchwoman, who once turned down the chance to appear in Penthouse, talked of her fight against the flab.
Van Moorsel weighed in at 43 kilograms in her early racing days. But her weight ballooned and a fretting van Moorsel was forced to go to a special clinic to reduce her 80 kilograms.
Her victory margin on Wednesday was a slim 0.37 of a second over Russian Zoulfia Zabirova.
Jeannie Longo was far from gracious in defeat after failing in her quest for a 13th world crown and a fourth consecutive gold in the elite time trial.
"For three years we have not seen her [Van Moorsel]. Then she is back with 15 kilograms more and wins the championship," said the Frenchwoman.
She was fifth, 24 seconds slower than van Moorsel's 31 minutes 51 seconds over a hilly 23 kilometers.
Van Moorsel who is now down to 59 kilograms, was surprised by her own showing.
"This title is more beautiful than my others because of what happened to me," she said. "I had to stop racing and then comeback. Now I know the real value of the title.
"This championship was not a fight with Longo but with myself. I had to prove that I was at the top level once more."
Longo admitted that the competitive level had risen, saying: "I was not bad but they were too strong for me.
"I am never successful in the cold. That and the stress beat me. It is a shame because I made the time trial my main goal."
Russian Zabirova lost the gold medal fight to Longo last year by 0.85 of a second in San Sebastian.
"I am not disappointed. This year the margin is smaller so I have hopes for next year."
German Hanka Kupfernagel was also philosophical about her bronze medal. "It's one place better than last year. Some day I will win," she said.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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