18-year-old Movistar talent 18th on Sanremo debut: "It was definitely way, way harder than I expected"
Cycling
The 2025 season is a big test for Cat Fergusson who is trying to find her place in the hierarchy of women's peloton. And that she can aim very high was sky-clear already before her third place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda last week.
But the name of the challenge awaiting the 18-year-old on Saturday had a unique ring to it. After all, we're talking about the resurrected (after 20 years) Milano-Sanremo Women. And Fergusson did more than decently to finish 18th after only narrowly missing the key split at the foot of Poggio.
"By the time the attacks came, I was out the back. It was definitely way, way harder than I expected. I tried what I could to chase back on the descent, normally I'm an OK descender, but I took it a bit too far this time and had a crash. I got back on quickly, it’s only grazes and stuff, so I’m all good," Ferguson described the final from her perspective.
"Then we rolled in with a bunch of fifteen of us to the finish and I'm not sure where I've come, but a really hard race, but I'm really happy to be here," the Movistar Team rider expressed.
"It’s my first time ever and also everyone else’s here, which is really incredible to say. I was looking to be here, to be at the finish. I hope all the girls that crashed today are OK because I know there was a pretty big one before the Cipressa," she said.
Ferguson will continue her first professional season with more classics in Belgium: "For me, it’s now Brugge-De Panne on the 27th, then Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen," Ferguson said.
"So far, so good. I love bike racing, I’m a fan of the sport that I also compete in and I think I will be forever. It’s a really magical sport and I'm happy to be part of the story today," Ferguson concluded.
Funny that they shorten women’s races but have no qualms about letting U23 do the same distances.
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- Good for him but not exactly the most competitive field, though better than what Froome would try ;-) Let’s wait and see if he can keep things up over time.Mistermaumau25-03-2025
- Huh? So when the men’s is boring and the women’s isn’t should they transfer money or how do you suggest to do things. Last I heard, it’s a bunch of mostly ageing chubby men who set the criteria for women’s races (and in most sports it’s still rather like how religions are run). Don’t think the girls are particularly against doing the same races as the men. Anyway, there’s a huge unjustified gap between 11% of and a difference of 11%. Doubt this happens at the Olympics.Mistermaumau25-03-2025
- C’mon, nobody has ever spoken of Ganna in the same breath as those two until a few months ago and he showed how close a thing it can be when he’s on form, nobody can know in advance what form Remco will have, his Olympic form would cause even Tadej problems, and Wout, well, we’ll just have to wait and see but you can’t really write him off in advance.Mistermaumau25-03-2025
- Quite true but I’d not rule MVDP out yet, am pretty sure he will still improve in climbing and maybe not every rival will do every edition so stars may still align. Ironically, all three and even Wout, would probably (at least 2 definitely) win all 5 if it wasn’t for the others.Mistermaumau25-03-2025
- MSR really did open the can of worms.... A personal view, of the three noted Tadej is most likely to get the set he has the skill, the talent and sheer bloody-mindedness to win everywhere. Yes the it'll all have to come right to pick up Roubaix and MSR but he's already proved himself on all terrain. I'd rate Remco's chances of getting the 5 fractionally higher than MVDP, he can climb so LBL/Lombardia as less of a problem but he's yet to prove himself on the other races and we don't know how well and how quick he'll get back to where he was after injury, this has been a long lay off. MVDP, I'd love to see him do it but I think Lombardia is too much of a stretch, the organisers will not create an "easier" route just to pull him in. I've said on other articles that I fear for Wout, I don't know that he is at the same level as MVDP and Tadej anymore, they have cranked the level up while Wout has been recovering from last years debacle. Will it happen who knows but it's going to be incredible to watch over the next couple of years!slappers6625-03-2025
- I think that when Caleb unleashed his sprint, he unleashed a couple of years of built up frustration as well.
santiagobenites25-03-2025 - The guy has changed teams so often they are not sure what one is currently his.Cyclingsbestfan25-03-2025
- Do you honestly not have a picture of Ewan in his correct team kit?JoBro25-03-2025
- that sounds right. at Roubaix, any of the strong riders who has better luck than the other elites can win. not the case at flanders, where THE strongest almost always wins. (which means rvv will be either tadej or mathieu.)OCexile25-03-2025
- Yes try riding same distances as themen as courses as hard. No point wanting same money if you are not putting the miles and same work in.paultryan200225-03-2025