Paralympian #220 Eltje Malzbender has seized another silver in Glasgow! This brings the Para Cycling Team tally to an astonishing 12 medals across the World Championships.
Cambridge-based Malzbender displayed her signature drive, keeping a big gap throughout on the other riders in the T1 group. Czech rider Pavlina Vejvedova claimed gold. Malzbender maintained her position over former world champion Shelley Gautier of Canada, who finished with bronze.
Malzbender explains her success:
“The length suits me much more than the really short time trial. And on the hills on this road race I was able to pull away from Shelly Gautier.”
Hills and Mead round out their Para Cycling Championships
Two other Kiwi Para cyclists also rounded out their World Championships with distinction today.
Paralympian #197 Stevo Hills, who also rides a trike, finished 9th in a dramatic Men’s T2 race. A crash at the start of the second lap caught up Hills, who then chased hard the whole second lap to finish just seconds after the leaders.
Paralympian #221 Rory Mead powered his way through 48km to finish 5th in the H2 race. Unable to seize the advantage of a couple of splits in his bunch, Mead was hemmed in by other handcyclists on the narrow course. Born in New Zealand, Mead lives in Ohio, but considers New Zealand home.
Coach Damian Wiseman describes the racing today:
“We showed well today and everyone raced hard. Our riders can foot it with the best in the world. Now, we continue to build towards Paris.”
Looking ahead to Day 4
Day 4 will hold our final Super Worlds Para cycling races. Cambridge local Nick Blincoe starts the Road Races at around 19.47 NZST, followed by Devon Briggs at around 22.15 NZST. The Women’s classes start around 3.45am Sunday NZST. We’ll see Paralympians Nicole Murray, Anna Taylor and Sarah Ellington battle the field in their respective sports classes.
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.
Athlete | Event | Result | Sports Class | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DAY 1 | Stevo Hills | Individual Time Trial – 11.5 km x 1 lap | 9th +1:07.13 | MT2 |
Rory Mead | Individual Time Trial – 11.5 km x 1 lap | 4th +3:20.72 | MH2 | |
Eltje Malzbender | Individual Time Trial – 11.5 km x 1 lap | Silver +2:10.70 | WT1 | |
DAY 2 | Devon Briggs | Individual Time Trial – 16.9 km x 1 lap | 18th +3:27.05 | MC3 |
Sarah Ellington | Individual Time Trial – 16.9 km x 1 lap | 6th +2:22.32 | WC2 | |
Nick Blincoe | Individual Time Trial – 28.1 km x 1 lap | 22nd +7:55.84 | MC4 | |
Nicole Murray | Individual Time Trial – 28.1 km x 1 lap | 6th +3:53.88 | WC5 | |
Anna Taylor | Individual Time Trial – 28.1 km x 1 lap | 10th +6:52.09 | WC4 | |
DAY 3 | Stevo Hills | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 2 laps 31.0 km | 9th +0.27 | MT2 |
Eltje Malzbender | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 2 laps 31.0 km | Silver +6:55 | WT1 | |
Rory Mead | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 3 laps 46.5 km | 5th +16:16 | MH2 | |
DAY 4 | Nick Blincoe | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 6 laps 93.0 km | 17th +21:16 | MC4 |
Devon Briggs | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 4 laps 62.0 km | 18th +14:13 | MC3 | |
Nicole Murray | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 5 laps 77.5 km | 5th +1:36 | WC5 | |
Anna Taylor | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 5 laps 77.5 km | DNF | WC4 | |
Sarah Ellington | Individual Road Race – 15.5 km x 4 laps 62.0 km | 11th +19:17 | WC2 |
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. 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.
About the World Championships
The UCI Cycling World Championships have been dubbed the ‘Super Worlds’ as they bring together 13 different World Championships in various cycling disciplines into one massive event in Glasgow, Scotland. The Para cyclists first competed in track events, and now contest road events from Wednesday 9th August through to Sunday 13th August.
