Chloé Dygert thought-about pulling out of the UCI Road World Championships elite girls’s highway race on Saturday, however with resolve and willpower, she overcame doubts about her type and a stunning silver medal was a particular reward after a tricky season.
Dygert fought to get again to the entrance of the race a number of occasions within the last two laps earlier than giving her all within the six-rider dash. She kicked to the left concurrently eventual winner Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) began her dash to the best, however Dygert did not have sufficient energy to match the defending champion.
“Before the race, I undoubtedly did not anticipate this, however now coming away with silver, I’m slightly mad that it wasn’t gold, however I’m blissful,” Dygert mentioned to Cyclingnews and different media post-race.
“I nearly did not actually even need to begin immediately after how my yr has gone and the way this week went mentally for me. I really feel very blessed to have the help that I’ve again house and right here. Without them, I do not assume I’d have began.”
Dygert is thought for her successful mentality however admitted that one other robust season had damage her.
She sustained a extreme leg damage on the 2020 Imola World Championships that required months of restoration and follow-up surgical procedures. She has additionally been hit with Epstein Barr virus, and coronary heart surgical procedure to deal with a longstanding tachycardia challenge.
Dygert crashed throughout the Paris Olympics time trial however nonetheless managed to win a bronze medal, and crashed once more throughout the girls’s highway race however went on to say the Olympic title within the girls’s staff pursuit the subsequent week. Everything has taken its toll on the 27-year-old American.
“This is just not an excuse however this entire yr, I do not actually know why, however simply the way in which I usually can damage myself – with my energy and my coaching – I’m simply off bodily,” Dygert admitted when requested by Cyclingnews.
“I’m not placing out the ability that I do know I can and may in coaching. I’m ending efforts and races and I am unable to trash myself, I am unable to flip myself inside out.
“I do not know if it is some type of psychological block after the previous 4 years. I’ve had all this day without work resulting from damage, however I’ve by no means had day without work as a result of once I take a break, it is all the time damage or illness-induced.
“Maybe it is sort of catching up with me, and I have to take a psychological break and reset, recharge and begin specializing in the season to come back.”
Dygert can maybe go into the offseason realizing she gave her all in Zurich regardless of the horrible situations.
“Lotte Kopecky is likely one of the finest sprinters, proper? She’s simply superb at sprinting, and I’m not a lot,” Dygert admitted.
“At the highest of the late climb I needed to gamble as a result of Elisa [Longo Borghini] went and I used to be behind Kopecky. I lulled behind her, simply anticipating her to go. I knew there was sufficient time we may do it.
“Then within the last, it was simply the descent for me. I went at my tempo and if I caught on, I caught on. I’m actually grateful and grateful that I did.
“Now I’ve simply started working on my descending. I’ve had quite a few crashes simply from sliding out and after my accident, there’s nonetheless worry there. I do not need to admit it however there’s.
“It’s simply one thing I’ve to beat. I’m engaged on it, we have lastly dialled in my tyre stress and hopefully by subsequent yr I’ll nail it.”
