Switzerland’s Patrick Schelling and Bernhard Oberholzer and Japan’s Genki Yamamoto are all smiles after winning the 160-kilometer road cycling event
SHENZHEN – Despite half the group failing to reach the finish line, Bernard Oberholzer still found his way through.
Both he and Patrick Schelling ruled the men’s 160-kilometer road cycling event to bag gold and silver medals for Switzerland in the 2011 Summer Universiade in Shenzhen, China.
Oberholzer posted three hours, 50 minutes, and 22 seconds to win first place, overcoming the grueling heat and a pool of tough opponents.
Both he and Schelling arrived neck-and-neck followed by second runner-up Genki Yamamoto (3:50:46) of Japan. We are not used to it in Europe,” noted the jubilant champion after the race.
“It’s too hot and we’re sweating all the time. In the beginning of the race, I thought, it’s really hard to go for the whole distance.”
Oberholzer led the pack with six other men and pulled away at a later time, leaving the finish line to both Swiss cyclists and Yamamoto.
“In the last part we attacked for a double victory. It’s a perfect race. It can’t be better than this,” he said.
Oberholzer admitted he was a little doubtful prior to the start.
“I really had no idea what I was able to do before the race. I didn’t know how the opponents were.”
The Swiss cyclist arrived last week Tuesday and had just enough time to adjust to the climate.
His teammates Lionel Wust and Christian Andres ranked 12 and 16th place, respectively. Japan’s Masanori Noguchi reached the top four at three hours, 51 minutes, and 58 seconds.
Out of 62 cyclists, 30 did not finish the race.
“It’s a big success for me to have won this gold medal, and I can’t wait to show this at home,” said Oberholzer.
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(Source: Christian Cruz, FISU Young Reporter/NMI)
The Swiss in action
