Day 3 (track): Briggs bags bronze in Cycling World Championships!

Cambridge teenager Devon Briggs has carried off another medal for New Zealand in the Glasgow 2023 Cycling World Championships. Interviewed after winning bronze, Briggs shared how pleased he was with how the C3 Kilometre Time Trial went:

“It was an amazing ride. It was really cool. In that last lap I just thought about keeping position and just keeping my legs turning. I dug deep and gave that everything.”

Briggs, who was born with severe club feet, finished just +0.644 seconds behind the UK’s Jaco van Gass in first place. The UK’s Graham Finlay was in second place, and the home crowd in Glasgow were delighted with the double medal win for the UK.

Coach Damian Wiseman believes Devon has stepped up his game in this World Championships:

“Devon rode two solid rides today and backed up with the same time, something he hasn’t done before in competition. He has well and truly inserted himself into the battle at the top of the C3 classification. Devon performed well at his first worlds last year, but the level of racing at this World Championships a year out from the Paralympics has stepped up a level. It is great to see him step up with the rest of the world.”

Teammates Ben Westenberg and Nick Blincoe weren’t as lucky as Briggs, finishing 9^th and 15^th respectively in the C4 qualifiers for the same event. Despite riding well, they didn’t quite have the legs to push through for the placings they were looking for.

The C4 Scratch Race saw tactical skills on display from Paralympian #225 Anna Taylor. Always in the right place, Taylor demonstrated her progression from last year’s World Championships both in her speed and her strategic understanding of her race. She was outfoxed by the Swiss and American teams who had multiple cyclists in the race able to support each other, as well as by a spectacular sprint finish from China’s Xiaohui Li who claimed gold. Taylor placed 4^th.

Paralympian #213 Sarah Ellington rode a solid race in the 200m C2 Time Trial, finishing 9^th. She continues to build confidence and capability in this event.

Coach Damian Wiseman was pleased with the performances:

“We had solid rides from all of our athletes today. These Championships are important to us not just for themselves but also for valuable Paralympic Games qualification points. The work that all of our athletes are doing here is critical for that.”

Looking ahead to Day 4

On day 4, New Zealand Para cyclists compete in three races, with three medal prospects. First up, Nicole Murray will tackle the 200m C5 Time Trial. Later in the day, she competes again in the 3km Individual Pursuit finals. Finally, Devon Briggs will get to work in the 15km Scratch Race.

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 (opens a new tab) 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 8^th August. Following that they then contest road events from Wednesday 9^th August through to Sunday 13^th August.

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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.