Follow the New Zealand Para Cycling Team as they compete across the 3 World Cups of 2023 – here’s how.
2023 Maniago Para Cycling Road World Cup
The 2023 Maniago Para Cycling Road World Cup took place 20-23 April 2023 in Italy.
See photos and results for the New Zealand team, including 2 incredible bronze medals for Eltje Malzbender, or view overall highlights on YouTube.
2023 Ostend Para Cycling Road World Cup
The 2023 Ostend Para Cycling Road World Cup takes place 4-7 May 2023 in Belgium.
What’s the schedule for the 2023 Ostend Para Cycling Road World Cup?
Time trial
Thursday 04.05.2023 – handcycles and tricycles
Friday 05.05.2023 – C-class (standard) bicycles and tandems
Road Race
Saturday 06.05.2023 – handcycles and tricycles
Sunday 07.05.2023 – C-class (standard) bicycles and tandems
2023 Ostend Para Cycling Road World Cup Results for New Zealand
Racing started Thursday in sunny but windy 20C temperatures with tricyclist Eltje Malzbender in the T1 class (WT1). The Time Trial event was 2 laps of 10.5km circuit along the coast of Ostend. Eltje started impressively and was in the hunt for another medal this weekend but unfortunately the distance, wind and bumpy paved sections through the towns triggered ataxia and she did not complete the final circuit.
Friday was a good morning for the New Zealanders in the Time Trial. Nicole Murray claimed silver medal, fending off challenges to keep a firm grip on second position throughout the race. Anna Taylor performed impressively for 5th, building considerably on her performance in Italy. Sarah Ellington had a strong ride for 6th place.
Saturday saw a good ride from Eltje in her Road Race until the last lap where she had some ataxia creep in and battled a few challenges to finish up 4th overall.
The final race day, Sunday, saw Anna Taylor improve on her placing from the previous World Cup with a good ride. Sarah Ellington rode really strongly to finish 5th in her bunch and working well right to the end of the race to ride away from her group to the line.
Nicole Murray had a brilliant ride in a very hard race where all of the C5 women were trying to get away. She jumped off the front of the bunch into the last corner and staying ahead of everyone except the Colombian rider who took first place.
Para athlete | Sports class | Time Trial | Road Race |
|---|---|---|---|
Sarah Ellington | Women's C2 | 5th | 7th |
Anna Taylor | Women's C4 | 9th | 9th |
Nicole Murray | Women's C5 | Silver | Silver |
Eltje Malzbender | Women's T1 | DNF | 4th |
Official site
2023 Huntsville Para Cycling Road World Cup
The 2023 Huntsville Para Cycling World Cup takes place 26-29 May in Alabama, United States.
What’s the schedule for the 2023 Huntsville Para Cycling Road World Cup?
Friday: Partial Day – Individual Time Trials
Saturday: All Day – Individual Time Trials
Sunday: All Day – Road Races
Monday: All Day – Road Races & Handcycle Team Relay
We’ll share more detail here when it’s available.
2023 Huntsville Para Cycling Road World Cup Results for New Zealand
The New Zealand Para Cycling Team had a smashing start to their final Road World Cup of the three-part series. Friday and Saturday say the Time Trials. The Team’s first gold medal was claimed by Paralympian Nicole Murray, beating rival Kerstin Brachtendorf of Germany, the current Time Trial world champion.
The medals didn’t end there. Paralympian handcyclist Rory Mead returned to international competition in style, seizing the bronze medal from a field of 9 handcyclists. Paralympians Stevo Hills, Anna Taylor and Sarah Ellington also put in strong performances to finish 7th, 4th and 5th respectively.
Para athlete | Sports class | Time Trial | Road Race |
|---|---|---|---|
Sarah Ellington | Women's C2 | 5th | 7th |
Anna Taylor | Women's C4 | 9th | 9th |
Nicole Murray | Women's C5 | Gold | Gold |
Devon Briggs | Men's C3 | 14th | 13th |
Stevo Hills | Men's T2 | 7th | 7th |
Rory Mead | Men's H2 | Bronze | Silver |
Liz Gasson (independent athlete) | Women's C3 | 9th | N/a |
Hannah Pascoe and pilot Sophie Williamson (independent) | Women's BVI | 10th | 7th |
