The 2023 Pan American Championships had two clear dominants: Gerardo Ulloa and Kate Courtney
Latin American countries already have cyclists who are world stars at XCO
The XCO Pan American Championship was held this past week in Congonhas, Brazil. Although it is a continental championship and hand out a large number of UCI points, there has historically been a small presence of elite motorcyclists from the USA and Canada. The fact that each year has less impact on the quality of the Pan American Network. The growing importance of motorcyclists in Latin America has made testing of an exceptional level.
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Gerardo Ulloa wins it all
Give him a risky and far-fetched attack on XCO
Within the competition program for the Congonhas Pan American Championships, the two highlights were short track on Friday and XCO on Sunday.
In the short course, last minute changes were made to the track to adapt it to the conditions on the ground due to the previous rain, leaving a very flat and fast circuit. The tactical race was more predictable, and in part it was.
The strongest and most dangerous of all was Gerardo Ulloa. The Mexican attacked just short of the finish line and managed to escape on his own to win the race by a comfortable margin.
Ulloa win
Courtney never fails in the short track
Behind him, Martin Fedori in the sprint placed the silver and Canada’s Gunnar Holmgren in the bronze.
In the women’s event, the field was for Kate Courtney. The Scott-SRAM rider fulfilled her role as favorite by winning power and control over Raiza Goulao and Kelsey Urban.
Neither Avancini nor Fedori have ever medaled
Ulloa also controls XCO…and qualifies for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024
Triumph and ticket to Paris 2024. Avanchini and Fedori from the podium
After winning the short track, Ulloa capped off a perfect weekend by also winning the XCO. He did so with authority similar to that shown in Short Track, and was able to reach the finish line on his own. There is no doubt that the Mexican driver was the strongest of the weekend. His victory is worth much more than the title of Pan American champion. It’s the direct passport to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Behind him, she took the podium with two surprises. Canada’s Holmgren showed that his medal in the short track was no accident, taking silver at the XCO, and Argentine Joel Fernando Contreras took a completely unexpected bronze.
The remaining clear contenders for the podium were eliminated. Henrique Avanchini was fifth, Leander Bouchard sixth and Martin Fedori seventh.
- Jose Gerardo Oloa Arevalo (Mexico) – 1h27’05 »
- Gunnar Holmgren (Canada) – 1h27’45 »
- Joel Fernando Contreras (Argentina) – 1h28’48 »
- Ulan Bastos Galinski – 1h28’59 »
- Henrique Avancini – 1h29’08 »
- Leander Bouchard (Canada) – 1h29’15 »
- Martin Fedori (CHI) – 1h29’39 »
- Luis Henrique Cocuzzi – 1h30’03
- Jose Gabriel Marquez de Almeida – 1h30’04 »
- Guilherme Muller – 1h30’07 »
Kate Courtney took it all
Kate Courtney also takes the double
Courtney also acquired Short Track and XCO
Like Ulloa, Kate Courtney also took gold in short track and XCO. The American had a tough battle with compatriot Kelsey Urban and Brazilian Raisa Golau. In fact, the differences between them were small during most of the test and the fight for gold was always alive.
- Kate Courtney (USA) – 1h27’02 »
- Kelsey Urban (USA) – 1h27’23 »
- Raisa Golau – 1h27’23 »
- Daniela Pion (Mexico) – 1h28’32 »
- Jennifer Jackson (Canada) – 1h28’37 »
- Karen Olympio – 1h29’32 »
- Isabella Lacerda – 1h30’36 »
- Ana Maria Muñoz (Mexico) – 1h31’37 »
- Erika Monserrate Suarez (Mexico) – 1h32’42 »
- Sepdra Walter (Canada) – 1h33’24 »
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