Posted on Friday 4th August, 2023

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

AthleteEventResultSports Class

Day 1

Nicole Murray3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying2nd (qualified for gold final) +3.325 + PBWC5
Anna Taylor3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying3rd (qualified for bronze final) +7.713 + PBWC4
Sarah Ellington3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying5th +22.023WC2
Ben Westenberg4Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying5th +7.016 + PBMC4
Nick Blincoe4Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying22nd +37.730MC4
Devon Briggs3Km Individual Pursuit Qualifying4th (qualified for bronze final) +7.416MC3

Day 2

Nicole Murray500m Time Trial Qualifying3rd +0.998WC5
Ben Westenberg200m FS Time Trial 4th +0.962MC4
Nick Blincoe200m FS Time Trial 7th +1.232MC4
Nicole Murray500m Time Trial Finals Bronze +0.639WC5

Day 3

Sarah Ellington200m FS Time Trial 9thWC2
Devon BriggsKilometre Time Trial Qualifying2nd (qualified for final)MC3
Nick BlincoeKilometre Time Trial Qualifying15th +6.901MC4
Ben WestenbergKilometre Time Trial Qualifying9th +4.833MC4
Devon BriggsKilometre Time Trial Finals Bronze +0.644MC3
Anna Taylor10Km Scratch Final4thWC4

Day 4

Nicole Murray200m FS Time Trial 4thWC5
Nicole Murray3Km Individual Pursuit Finals Silver WC5
Devon Briggs15Km Scratch Finals BronzeMC3

Day 5

Sarah Ellington500m Time Trial Qualifying9thWC2
Devon Briggs200m FS Time Trial1st (non-medal event)MC3
Anna Taylor500m Time Trial Qualifying5th +3.092WC4
Nick Blincoe15Km Scratch Finals20thMC4
Ben Westenberg15Km Scratch Finals SilverMC4
Anna Taylor500m Time Trial Finals4th +2.604WC4
Devon Briggs3Km Individual Finals BronzeMC3

Day 6

Anna Taylor200m FS Time Trial 2nd (non-medal event)WC4
Anna Taylor3Km Individual Pursuit Finals4thWC4
Nicole Murray10Km Scratch Finals4thWC5

Day 7

TBCTeam Sprint Qualifying9thM/WC1-5
Sarah Ellington10Km Scratch Finals8thWC2

Omnium

Ben WestenbergOmnium BronzeC4
Nick BlincoeOmnium11thC4
Devon BriggsOmnium BronzeC3
Anna TaylorOmnium GoldC4
Sarah EllingtonOmnium7thC2
Nicole MurrayOmnium GoldC5

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.