Unheralded Duarte dashes local boy’s road race dream

COLOMBIAN Fabio Duarte took his country’s first amateur world road race title at the U23 cycling championships in Varese, Italy, yesterday.

Italy had to be content with silver, as Simone Ponzi was first of three home riders to cross the line in the lead group, the Italian banging his handlebars in frustration at being beaten by the unknown Colombian.

Germany’s John Degenkolb, on the other hand was delighted with his medal, having outsprinted Britain’s Ben Swift and the rest of his breakaway partners for the bronze.