TEAM Sunweb roared to finish line to capture the world title in the women’s team time trial. So did Filipino standout Coryn Rivera who was part of the six-member squad that defeated the 2016 champions on Monday in Bergen, Norway.
Living in Tustin, California, with more than a cabinet full of 70 national titles, the 24-year-old Rivera adds another decoration to her already storied career, this time a world title with her team that dominated the 42-kilometer time-trial course with a 12 seconds gap from last year’s winner Boels Dolmans.
Team Sunweb submitted a time of 55 minutes and 41 seconds, with Boels Dolmans taking second and Cervelo-Bigla running in third (+28 seconds).
They actually trailed from the starting block and were 15 seconds behind Cervelo in the first time check. In the second half of the race, Boels Dolmans, composed of tested riders from Europe and North American, moved 15 seconds up from the second-running Team Sunweb.
It was only in the last five kilometers that the ladies from Team Sunweb exacted payback to win the world title. The champion’s male counterpart did the same feat by hauling the gold in the men’s team time trial, with BMC and Team Sky following in the podium.
Rivera teamed up with Leah Kirchmann from Canada, and Sabrina Stultiens, Lucinda Brand, Floortje Mackij and Ellen can Dijk from the Netherlands.
Daughter of a Tondo native father and a mother who hails from Tuguegarao City, Rivera has amassed impressive results this year. She clinched championships in Tour of Flanders, RideLondon Classique and Trofeo Alfredo Binda.