Day 2 (track): Paralympian Nicole Murray claims NZ’s first Cycling Worlds medal
Paralympian Nicole Murray has claimed New Zealand’s first medal of Glasgow 2023 – smashing the competition to claim bronze in a hard-fought 500m C5 Time Trial. What’s more, this wasn’t a favoured event for the talented Para cyclist. Murray was +0.639 behind the Netherlands Caroline Groot who took gold.
The 30-year-old Otorohanga native explains:
“It’s such an awesome feeling to see the New Zealand flag over the podium for the first time in these World Championships – and to know that I’ve done that! I couldn’t be more pleased to win a medal in this event especially. It’s not one that I’ve been targeting.”
Murray has been in the Paralympics New Zealand Para Cycling Programme since 2015, competing in the C5 classification as a left-hand amputee. She made her international debut in Rio de Janeiro at the 2018 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships. Murray exceeded all expectations in that World Championships and has continued to exceed them since then.
18-year-old C4 Para cyclist Ben Westenberg continues his incredible World Championships debut with a 4th place finish in the 200m Time Trial. Fellow C4 teammate Nick Blincoe also delivered a strong ride to finish 7th in the same race.
Coach Damian Wiseman is delighted with how the day has panned out:
“Great 200m time trials from Nick and Ben and two outstanding rides from Nicole to deliver her first medal in an event that is not a primary focus for her. The team is delivering well and bringing the work they have done to these champs.”
Results
| Athlete | Event | Result | Sports Class |
|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | |||
| Nicole Murray | 3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 2nd (qualified for gold final) +3.325 + PB | WC5 |
| Anna Taylor | 3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 3rd (qualified for bronze final) +7.713 + PB | WC4 |
| Sarah Ellington | 3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 5th +22.023 | WC2 |
| Ben Westenberg | 4Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 5th +7.016 + PB | MC4 |
| Nick Blincoe | 4Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 22nd +37.730 | MC4 |
| Devon Briggs | 3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying | 4th (qualified for bronze final) +7.416 | MC3 |
Day 2 | |||
| Nicole Murray | 500m Time Trial Qualifying | 3rd +0.998 | WC5 |
| Ben Westenberg | 200m FS Time Trial | 4th +0.962 | MC4 |
| Nick Blincoe | 200m FS Time Trial | 7th +1.232 | MC4 |
| Nicole Murray | 500m Time Trial Finals | Bronze +0.639 | WC5 |
Day 3 | |||
| Sarah Ellington | 200m FS Time Trial | 9th | WC2 |
| Devon Briggs | Kilometre Time Trial Qualifying | 2nd (qualified for final) | MC3 |
| Nick Blincoe | Kilometre Time Trial Qualifying | 15th +6.901 | MC4 |
| Ben Westenberg | Kilometre Time Trial Qualifying | 9th +4.833 | MC4 |
| Devon Briggs | Kilometre Time Trial Finals | Bronze +0.644 | MC3 |
| Anna Taylor | 10Km Scratch Final | 4th | WC4 |
Day 4 | |||
| Nicole Murray | 200m FS Time Trial | 4th | WC5 |
| Nicole Murray | 3Km Individual Pursuit Finals | Silver | WC5 |
| Devon Briggs | 15Km Scratch Finals | Bronze | MC3 |
Day 5 | |||
| Sarah Ellington | 500m Time Trial Qualifying | 9th | WC2 |
| Devon Briggs | 200m FS Time Trial | 1st (non-medal event) | MC3 |
| Anna Taylor | 500m Time Trial Qualifying | 5th +3.092 | WC4 |
| Nick Blincoe | 15Km Scratch Finals | 20th | MC4 |
| Ben Westenberg | 15Km Scratch Finals | Silver | MC4 |
| Anna Taylor | 500m Time Trial Finals | 4th +2.604 | WC4 |
| Devon Briggs | 3Km Individual Finals | Bronze | MC3 |
Day 6 | |||
| Anna Taylor | 200m FS Time Trial | 2nd (non-medal event) | WC4 |
| Anna Taylor | 3Km Individual Pursuit Finals | 4th | WC4 |
| Nicole Murray | 10Km Scratch Finals | 4th | WC5 |
Day 7 | |||
| TBC | Team Sprint Qualifying | 9th | M/WC1-5 |
| Sarah Ellington | 10Km Scratch Finals | 8th | WC2 |
Omnium | |||
| Ben Westenberg | Omnium | Bronze | C4 |
| Nick Blincoe | Omnium | 11th | C4 |
| Devon Briggs | Omnium | Bronze | C3 |
| Anna Taylor | Omnium | Gold | C4 |
| Sarah Ellington | Omnium | 7th | C2 |
| Nicole Murray | Omnium | Gold | C5 |
Looking ahead to Day 3
Day 3 will see Paralympian Anna Taylor take on the 10km scratch race, and Paralympian Sarah Ellington tackle the 200m Time Trial. Nick Blincoe, Ben Westenberg and Devon Briggs will compete in the Kilometre Time Trial.
See the schedule of when the New Zealanders compete. Livestreaming is available for some events, and links to the livestreams are provided on the schedule.
About the World Championships
The UCI Cycling World Championships have been dubbed the ‘Super Worlds’. They bring together 13 different World Championships in various cycling disciplines into one massive event in Glasgow, Scotland. The Para cyclists will compete in track events until next Tuesday 8th August. Following that they then contest road events from Wednesday 9th August through to Sunday 13th August.
What do the classifications mean in Para cycling?
- Classification groups Para cyclists with an eligible impairment into sports classes, 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. 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.
