Maria Martins wins bronze in scratch at Track Cycling World Championships

Portuguese cyclist Maria Martins secured a bronze medal in the scratch race at the Track Cycling World Championships in Shanghai, China. This marks her third World Championship medal, following previous bronze finishes in the scratch in 2020 and the omnium in 2022.

During the 40-lap race, Martins positioned herself strategically in the final laps, following the lead of the Netherlands' Lorena Wiebes and Ireland's Lara Gillespie to secure third place. Wiebes took the gold, while Gillespie earned the silver.

Martins is among the first Portuguese athletes to compete in this year's championships. Other members of the Portuguese delegation, including Olympic champion Iúri Leitão, are scheduled to compete in various disciplines including the omnium, elimination, and madison in the coming days.