Paralympian Eltje Malzbender has beaten her way to bronze in the 2022 UCI Para Cycling World Championships T1 road race. She has claimed New Zealand’s second medal of the Championships, following Nicole Murray’s silver medal in yesterday’s C5 time trial.
Eltje completed the 28.4km road race in 1:18:19. She was in excellent spirits following the race, laughing as she explained:
“I feel good [about the race]. My main competitor [Canada’s Shelley Gautier] punctured, but I think I would have beaten her anyway!”
Eltje was a medal favourite after winning gold in this race her last time around (2019).
Forceful ride from Stevo Hills
Today held bitter disappointment for Paralympian Stevo Hills, who left everything out there in a forceful T2 road race. Stevo (pictured) proved his determination as he nipped at the heels of the top three riders throughout the race, leaving the packed T2 field well behind him. He made a bold attempt to overtake on the final corner but lost ground in the final metres of a sprint finish. Stevo finished in fourth.
Stevo’s disappointment showed as he shared:
“I tried to take them in the sprint but I just couldn’t make it.”
He completed the race in 1:13:36, just + 00:04 behind first place.
Racing continues from midnight tonight
Racing continues tonight for the rest of the New Zealand team: Nicole Murray, Fraser Sharp and Sarah Ellington. They compete in their road races from midnight.
Para cycling classifications are explained in the notes below.
MORE ABOUT THE PARA CYCLING ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
For further information including schedule and livestream link, go to:
WHAT DO THE CLASSIFICATIONS MEAN IN PARA CYCLING?
Classification groups Para cyclists with an eligible impairment into sports classes. Para cyclists are classified according to how much their impairment affects their ability to carry out the fundamental activities in their sport.
- Para athletes who are able to use a standard bicycle (with approved adaptations) compete in the five sport classes C1-5. Sport class C1 is allocated to athletes with the most severe activity limitation, while the sport class C5 is allocated to athletes with minimum impairments. The C1-5 sport classes include athletes with limb deficiency, impaired muscle power or range of motion and impairments affecting co-ordination, such as uncoordinated movements and involuntary movements.
- Para cyclists who have a visual impairment race on a tandem bicycle with a sighted cyclist (pilot) at the front. They cycle in the sports class B. This class will include athletes with a range of visual impairment from a low visual acuity (less than 6/60) and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees through to athletes with no vision.
- Para athletes who ride a tricycle are unable to ride a bicycle safely due to impairment affecting their balance and coordination. They are divided into two classes, T1 and T2. The sport class T1 is allocated to athletes with more significant balance and co-ordination impairments and problems controlling movements than athletes competing in sport class T2.
- There are five different sport classes for handcycle racing. The lower numbers indicate a more severe activity limitation. Para athletes competing in the H1 classes have a complete loss of trunk and leg function and limited arm function, e.g. as a result of a spinal cord injury. Para athletes in the H4 class have limited or no leg function, but good trunk and arm function. Para cyclists in sport classes H1 – 4 compete in a reclined position. Para cyclists in the H5 sport class sit on their knees because they are able to use their arms and trunk to accelerate the handcycle. Para athletes in this sport class might have leg amputations, paraplegia or mild to moderate involuntary and uncoordinated movements.
