MTB cycling: The Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2017 ended yesterday with the victories of Yana Belomoina and Jordan Sarrou in Amathous. With his third victory in the cup, the Frenchman also secured the overall ranking, while the Belgian Githa Michiels was the overall winner in the women's category.
Between ancient ruins, the women ensured a spectacular finale of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2017. Led by Swede Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory Racing), Barbara Benko (Focus XC) and Yana Belomoina (CST Sandd American Eagle) broke away from the field early on. However, the ex-Swedish champion was only able to keep up the high speed for the first lap and fairly let both Benko and Belomonia pass. In lap three, Yana Belomoina from Ukraine took the lead for the first time. After a hard attack on the steepest and most difficult climb of the lap, she took victory without any problems. In the end, the two leading cyclists were separated by 44 seconds, Alexandra Engen finished third, 1:20 minutes behind the winner. Afxentia winner Githa Michiels (Team Versluys) only came in fourth due to health issues, but can still be happy about the overall victory of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup 2017.
Jordan Sarrou impressively lived up to his role as favorite in the most beautiful sunshine. From the start, the Frenchman pushed hard and left no doubts about his ambitions to win. His lead over his pursuers grew to a minute within two laps - a lead that the BH SR-Suntour KMC team rider managed comfortably to the end. In the end, the Frenchman won the race in Amathous by 1:11 minutes. On the other hand, the fight for second place turned out to be exciting. In the course of the race, Karl Markt (Möbel Märki) from Austria and the Swiss Thomas Litscher (jb Brunex-Felt) were joined by the poorly started Jan Skarnitzl (Sram Mitas Trek). The Czech sat down in the gap that had grown and launched a total of five attacks on the second-placed Austrian, who stayed ahead. Jan Skarnitzl was third, only 0,5 seconds behind Karl Markt, Thomas Litscher was fourth, 44 seconds behind.