CAROLINE MANI CLAIMS SILVER AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Caroline Mani displayed a stellar performance in front of thousands this past weekend to secure the silver medal in this year’s 2016 UCI Cyclocross World Championships. Mani beat pre-race favorite Sanna Cant to the line, but finished behind the newly crowned champion, Dutch Thalita de Jong. After the race was completed, Caroline Mani reflected upon her performance and said, “Coming to the finish line I realized ‘I am going to win the silver medal at worlds.’, but honestly my first reaction was disappointment because I was so close to winning,” Mani said. “It was a mixed feeling at first – I was happy, I waved, I had emotions and then 30-seconds later I told myself ‘I am number two in the world!’ “ [Raleigh Professional Cycling Team].

Caroline Mani (far left) – Photo Courtesy of  Meg McMahon

Raleigh Professional Cycling Team wrote –

When the light turned green, Mani, along with the rest of the front row, went full tilt off the line. By the end of the first lap, Mani found herself comfortably situated in the front group along with World Cup overall winner Sanne Cant, 2016 Hoogerheide World Cup winner Sophie de Boer (the Netherlands) and 2016 Namur World Cup winner and British national champion Nikki Harris.

“On the start line I told myself ‘let’s just do this!,’ said Mani. “I had a good start, went wide around the first tight corner to avoid crashes and I was about top ten after the pits. I was already at the front of the race when in Europe I don’t normally even see the front.”

The four leaders would each take turns leading the race as they distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Typical of her aggressive and animated racing style, Mani would often take control at the head of the group as if to say “if you want the win, you have to take it from me first.”

“I was the one who made the race the first few laps,” said Mani. “They were all focused on Sanne. Everyone thought she’s going to be the one to win so their race was all about her.”

“I tested her and I knew she wasn’t the strongest one,” Mani added. “I dropped her on the road climb and running. I knew I was stronger. I attacked and went away, but it was easy to bring me back on the long road sections.”