Alena Amialiusik of Belarus celebrates after winning the women’s cycling road race during the 2015 European Games in Baku yesterday. (AFP)

Reuters/Baku


Alena Amialiusik’s power-packed finish in a three-way sprint secured European Games road race gold for the Belarusian around the streets of Baku yesterday.
Amialiusik, 26, timed her challenge to perfection in scorching heat, hovering behind her rivals before stepping on the gas 50 metres from the finish of the 120.7 km course. Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma took silver and Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen bronze with the trio credited with the same time of three hours, 20 minutes and 36 seconds.
The Netherlands had already qualified for next year’s Olympics but unlike other Rio-bound leading nations sent a strong squad to Baku, despite the absence of injured Olympic gold medallist and 12-time world champion Marianne Vos.
Ellen van Dijk took the individual time trial title on Thursday but another medal eluded her as she finished 18 seconds behind the podium places in fourth having been unable to reel in the trio in the latter stages.
Van der Breggen appeared set to spark more Dutch celebrations when she led into the final straight but was a sitting target for Amialiusik who dug deep in the shadow of the finish line.
Amialiusik, third in the team time trial at last year’s world championships having finished 15th in the road race at the 2012 London Olympics, said the hot conditions were no problem for her.
“I am accustomed to riding in the heat. In terms of tactics, it was difficult, the Dutch came with an Olympic team, with strong racers. There was six of them and they were the dominating team. The most important thing was to remain calm and have faith in yourself.”
Amiakiusik compared the course, which included sections of cobbles in the old town of the capital, to a “Belgian classic”.
She also said victory would not have been possible without the efforts of her team mates. “Tatsiana (Sharakova) helped me a lot because she protected me from the Dutch athletes and without her I could not have won,” she said.
“They (Netherlands) were very strong but you don’t have to be strong, you just have to be with your team and have teamwork.”

Hit me hard because I fight like a man, says Briton Ryan
Sparring in the gym with her brother and other male boxers is an integral part of Sandy Ryan’s training regime and if you don’t punch her hard she’ll thump you back harder.
The British light-welterweight has learned her ring skills from older brother Dave, who goes by the nickname “Rocky” and won the Commonwealth title in the same weight division.
“I grew up training with my brother and all the lads in gym. It has really brought me on. A lot of people say I look like a lad,” Ryan said after defeating Germany’s Cindy Rogge in their last 16 contest at the European Games yesterday.  
“To be fair, I’m taking it as a credit because if you are boxing like a lad it means you are more mature and better in the ring. I think it’s the way I fight rather than how I look. Some of the lads take it easy the first time they spar with me but the coaches always say, ‘you’d better hit her hard because she’s going to hit you back’.”
Ryan, 21, won world championship silver last year at her first senior major tournament, but has endured a frustrating few days waiting for her opening bout in Baku but shook off the rustiness against Rogge. “It’s the longest I have ever waited to compete, I normally only have to wait three or four days. I thought it might have an impact, but it didn’t,” she said.
“I’ve stayed sharp by doing pads with my coaches and just being professional, keeping a clean diet. Awaiting in Tuesday’s quarter-finals is Azeri fighter Elena Vystropova and Ryan is expecting a tough contest.
“I’m a bit wary of my next opponent, but I will just do what I do and I’ll give her a run for her money.” Should Ryan prevail she would then meet Russian Anastasiia Beliakova in the semi-finals. Beliakova beat Ryan by a unanimous decision in the world championships final in South Korea.