Day 2 of the Speed competition at #ASU26 started under challenging weather conditions, with rain forcing the programme to be postponed to the following day.
The delay led to changes in the schedule, with the qualifying rounds of the 10,000m Elimination cancelled and the event moving directly to the finals. The return to the track brought a packed programme featuring the 500m+D and 10,000m Elimination with the world’s best skaters ready to battle for medals on the track in Asunción.
The day delivered high-speed racing across all four categories. Colombia once again played a major role throughout the competition, while athletes from Italy, France, Chinese Taipei, Spain, Portugal, India and Venezuela also stepped onto the podium.
JUNIOR WOMEN
500m+D – Junior Women
The Junior Women’s 500m+D final featured Gisell Caicedo and Manuela Saldarriaga of Colombia, Alicia McBride of the USA and Italy’s Sofia Paola Chiumiento.
The Colombian duo made a very fast start, immediately taking control at the front and trying to keep their rivals behind. But Sofia Paola Chiumiento showed her speed once again. In the closing stages, the Italian fought her way back into contention and put her wheel across the line to claim the silver medal.
Results
- Gisell Caicedo – Colombia
- Sofia Paola Chiumiento – Italy
- Manuela Saldarriaga – Colombia
10000m ELIMINATION
43 athletes lined up at the starting line. Despite the long distance, the young skaters pushed the pace from the very beginning, with only a few heavy crashes forcing some of them out of the race. The unstoppable Colombian duo of Mariana Imitola Vasquez and Manuela Rodriguez Torres dominated the Junior Women’s 10,000m Elimination from the very first lap.
Their rivals could only fight for the remaining podium places. This time, gold went to Manuela Rodriguez Torres, with Mariana Imitola Vasquez taking silver. From Venezuela, Mailliw Rojas Castellanos produced an impressive final lap to secure the bronze medal.
Results
- Manuela Rodriguez Torres – Colombia
- Mariana Imitola Vasquez – Colombia
- Mailliw Rojas Castellanos – Venezuela
JUNIOR MEN
500m+D – Junior Men
The Junior Men’s 500m+D final brought together Juan Silva Rodriguez of Colombia, Damien Silvestre-Striegel of France, Edoardo Abis of Italy and Wei-Ning Chuang of Chinese Taipei.
Chuang made his decisive move on the final lap, accelerating away from the field to take the victory.
Behind him, the fight for the remaining medals went down to the line. Damien Silvestre-Striegel was relegated for a Sport Fault, promoting Edoardo Abis to the silver medal.
Results
- Wei-Ning Chuang – Chinese Taipei
- Edoardo Abis – Italy
- Juan Silva Rodriguez – Colombia
10000m ELIMINATION
45athletes lined up for the Junior Men’s 10,000m Elimination, in a race that quickly picked up the pace when the Italian skaters moved to the front and began driving the rhythm.
The pace remained high throughout the race, with the pack staying compact until the final stages. With six laps to go, the Colombians with Jeronimo Sanchez, Juan Manuel Chaux Valenica took the initiative, changing the rhythm and launching the sprint.
But Giorgio Ghisio Erba of Italy had other plans. Coming out of the final corner at almost twice the speed of the riders ahead of him, he made a spectacular move and crossed the finish line with his arms raised, taking the victory.
Results
- Giorgio Ghisio Erba – Italy
- Jeronimo Sanchez – Colombia
- Joaquin Loyola Cavalieri - Ecuador
SENIOR WOMEN
500m+D – Senior Women
The Senior Women’s 500m+D final saw the Colombian duo take control from the start, working together at the front and trying to keep the other contenders behind.
Sara Munoz Moreno of Colombia claimed the gold medal, followed by Yi Hsuan Liu of Chinese Taipei and Manon Fraboulet of France.
Kollin Castro was disqualified for a Sport Fault , due to stepping on the internal part of the track to gain a position.
Results
- Sara Munoz Moreno – Colombia
- Yi Hsuan Liu – Chinese Taipei
- Manon Fraboulet – France
10000m ELIMINATION
The Colombian duo of Gabriela Rueda and Yicel Camila Giraldo Vasquez controlled the race almost from start to finish, taking the lead and setting the pace for all 50 laps. With two strong riders working together at the front, they managed to keep the other top contenders behind.
But Gabriela Vargas, Ecuador, had other plans. With three laps to go, she took the initiative and launched the sprint, making the Colombians’ strategy much more complicated.
Then, with one and a half laps remaining, Gabriela Rueda made her move. She accelerated away from the pack and left her rivals behind, crossing the finish line to claim the gold medal.
Gabriela Vargas took silver, while Alison Bernardi from France produced a strong finish to snatch the bronze medal on the line from the other Colombian contender.
Results
- Gabriela Rueda – Colombia
- Gabriela Vargas – Ecuador
- Alison Bernardi – France
SENIOR MEN
500m+D – Senior Men
The Senior Men’s 500m+D delivered a fast and highly contested final, with Jhon Tascon Holguin, Jhoan Guzman and Anandkumar Velkumar fighting for the podium.
Tascon Holguin produced a decisive final lap, accelerating past his rivals to take the gold medal. Jhoan Guzman claimed silver, with Anandkumar Velkumar taking bronze.
American Jacob Melton, one of the contenders in the race, was disqualified for a Sport Fault.
Results
- Jhon Tascon Holguin – Colombia
- Jhoan Guzman – Spain
- Anandkumar Velkumar – India
10000m ELIMINATION – SENIOR MEN
The race was fierce from the very beginning. Everyone wanted to move into the front positions early, looking to avoid crashes, gaps in the pack and unnecessary energy loss.
As the race entered its final stages, the French skaters with Martin Ferrie andVictor Aerts took control at the front, setting a brutal pace. Behind them were the Colombians Kevin Leins and Juan Mantilla, Daniel Niero of Italy and Miguel Bravo of Portugal, all fighting to stay within striking distance.
The final laps became increasingly intense, the french duo lead all the way to the final laps, with the Colombians repeatedly challenging for position. But Daniel Niero made the decisive move, managing to get directly behind Martin Ferrié with two laps to go.
The two stayed together through the final two laps, and Martin Ferrié held on to claim the title once again, five years after his last World Championship title, following a period in which a virus had kept him away from his best form.
Daniel Niero took silver, while Miguel Bravo completed the podium with bronze.
Results
- Martin Ferrié – France
- Daniel Niero – Italy
- Miguel Bravo – Portugal
The Racing competition continues tomorrow with the 1000m and Relay events.