Lejla Njemčević takes 8th place at World Cup after fall at start of race

(Patria) - Bosnia's top cyclist Lejla Njemčević took eighth place in the extremely demanding World Cup race, Hero Südtirol Dolomites, in Selva Val Gardena, Italy. Although she started the 60-kilometer race with 3,200 meters of elevation gain brilliantly, Lejla suffered a nasty fall at the twentieth kilometer, which largely dictated the further course of the competition.

Until the moment of the fall, our competitor was in the leading group and riding at a strong pace, which is an excellent indicator of her current physical form. Despite the fall and losing her racing rhythm, Lejla showed incredible mental and physical endurance. She continued the race, rode it to the very end, and chased a podium result. However, the fall and high energy expenditure took their toll, and she crossed the finish line in eighth place.

What pleases the entire team the most at this moment is the fact that the fall passed without injuries, as well as the top level of form that Lejla demonstrated in the opening part of the race against the fastest female cyclists in the world.

After this tough test, Lejla feels good and immediately continues with planned altitude preparations in Livigno. The entire training process is now maximally focused on the first major goal of the season, the European Championship in Bilbao, Spain, scheduled for July 12.