Hidalgo, Mexico – Team Type 1’s Veronica Leal won a bronze medal Friday at the Pan American Games women’s road race in Hidalgo, Mexico.Leal was part of a five-rider group that contested the sprint at the end of the 83-mile (99 km) race. Joelle Numainville of Canada won the gold medal and Paola Munoz of Chile took the silver.
“That’s a great result for her,” Team Type 1 women’s Team Director Jack Seehafer said. “She kept feeling better and better on every lap and I think the criteriums here in the United States have helped improve her sprint.”
In 2006, Leal’s Team Type 1 teammate and Seehafer’s wife, Kori, won the silver medal in the Pan Am Games road race while riding for the United States.
Leal narrowly missed adding a second medal to her collection on Thursday when she finished fourth in the 12.3-mile (19.8 km) individual time trial. Alessandra Giuseppina Grassi Herrera of Mexico won the gold in 29 minutes and 10 seconds. Tara Whitten of Canada was second, 36 seconds behind, and Valeria Muller of Argentina finished third, 1:01 back. Leal’s time was 1:21 slower than Grassi Herrera.
“I was feeling great, but I did feel the effects of the high altitude,” Leal said. “But I’m still very, very happy.”
The Pan Am Games were originally scheduled for mid-May, but were delayed due to the H1N1 virus outbreak.
Jack Seehafer said Leal’s performance sets the stage for a run at more medals at next weekend’s Mexican national road and time trial championships.
“It’s good to see Veronica getting used to her Orbea Ordu time trial bike,” he said. “I also think the road race at nationals is very well suited for her to win the (national championship) jersey.”
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