Top-10 finish for Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio took seventh place in the elite women’s time trial on Tuesday, missing out on a historic medal at the Road Cycling World Championships in Bergen.

Turning out as the lone South African in the individual contest, after she grabbed bronze in the team time trial with her Cervelo-Bigla trade outfit at the weekend, Moolman-Pasio put up a brave fight in overcast conditions.

The 31-year-old rider was nearly a minute off the pace of Australian bronze medallist Katrin Garfoot, however, and she was unable to mount a challenge for South Africa’s first podium finish in an elite individual event at the annual global championships.

Moolman-Pasio completed the 21.1km course in 30:08.88, with Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten winning gold in 28:50.35 ahead of Anna van der Breggen, who covered the route 12.16 seconds slower than her compatriot to pocket the silver medal.

African champion Willie Smit was the only SA rider in the start list for the elite men’s 31km time trial on Wednesday, and the eight-day showpiece was scheduled to come to a close with the road races this weekend.