Para cycling team heads to Canada for Road World Championships
Image: Eltje Malzbender appears on the Avantidrome Walk of Champions for her 2019 Para Cycling Road World Championships wins. Credit: Paralympics New Zealand.
Five of New Zealand’s top Para cyclists and their support team are in Canada to compete in both a World Cup and the World Championships in a whirlwind three-week tour.
Québec province hosts both events. The Québec City 2022 UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup takes place first 4-7 August. Five hours’ drive to the north-east, the city of Baie-Comeau hosts the 2022 UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships. The Para Cycling Road World Championships are from 11-14 August.
Which Para cyclists are competing in the 2022 Road World Championships?
The 5 Para cyclists in Canada are all Paralympians. Stevo Hills is a veteran of both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. For explanations of the classifications, see below.
- Paralympian Sarah Ellington (C2)
- Paralympian Stephen ‘Stevo’ Hills (T2)
- Paralympian Eltje Malzbender (T1)
- Paralympian Nicole Murray (C5)
- Paralympian Fraser Sharp (C2)
New Zealand Para athlete Elizabeth (Liz) Gasson (C3) also competed in the Québec City Road World Cup as an independent athlete.
Handcyclist Rory Mead was also originally named to the team, but had to withdraw due to injury.
The five Para cyclists are supported by:
- Damian Wiseman – Coach
- John Blake – Athlete Support
- Jess Baker – Physio
- Murray Solem – Mechanic
- Ryan Hollows – Team Manager
2022 UCI Para Cycling World Championships Results
Results will be added here as they become available.
| Day | Para athlete | Race | Time | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Eltje Malzbender | Women’s T1 time trial | 50:16.74, +7:26.81 behind first place | 4th |
| Day 1 | Stevo Hills | Men’s T2 time trial | 36:59.02, +3:19.76 behind first place | 7th |
| Day 2 | Fraser Sharp | Men’s C2 time trial | 28:44.38, +2:06.41 behind first place | 9th |
| Day 2 | Sarah Ellington | Women’s C2 time trial | 37.06.73, +6.02.63 behind first place | 7th |
| Day 2 | Nicole Murray | Women’s C5 time trial | 28:50.42, +37.43 behind first place | Silver |
| Day 3 | Eltje Malzbender | Women’s T1 road race | 1:18:19, +12:23 behind first place | Bronze |
| Day 3 | Stevo Hills | Men’s T2 road race | 1:13:36, + 00:04 behind first place | 4th |
| Day 4 | Fraser Sharp | Men’s C2 road race | 1:50:00, +00:11 behind first place | 6th |
| Day 4 | Sarah Ellington | Women's C2 road race | 2:02:40,+17:09 behind first place | 7th |
| Day 4 | Nicole Murray | Women's C5 road race | 1:58:44, +00:02 behind first place | Bronze |
How can New Zealanders follow the Para Cycling Road World Championships 2022?
This event will be live streamed.
Follow Paralympics New Zealand on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the New Zealand team’s results.
What’s the schedule for the 2022 UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships?
The 2022 UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships take place 11-14 August in Canada, which is 12-15 August in New Zealand. All times below are in New Zealand Standard Time.
Day 1
1.30-4.15am Friday 12 August (NZST)
Stevo Hills T1-2 Men’s time trial (18.9km)
Eltje Malzbender T1-2 Women’s time trial (18.9km)
DAY 2
1.30-4.15am Saturday 13 August (NZST)
Fraser Sharp C1-3 Men’s time trial (18.9km)
Nicole Murray, Sara Ellington C1-5 Women’s time trial (18.9km)
DAY 3
6.00-7.30am Sunday 14 August (NZST)
Stevo Hills T2 Men’s road race (37.8km)
Eltje Malzbender T1 Women’s road race (28.4km)
DAY 4
0.00-2.15am Monday 15 August (NZST)
Fraser Sharp C1-3 Men’s road race (70.2km)
Nicole Murray C4-5 Women’s road race (70.2km)
2.30-4.45am Monday 15 August (NZST)
Sarah Ellington C1-3 Women’s road race (58.5km)
Will Eltje regain her crown?
Paralympian Eltje Malzbender sped to double glory in 2019 when she competed at her first Para Cycling Road World Championships. At that event, she won both the time trial and the road race in her T1 classification.
COVID restrictions meant that New Zealanders have not participated in Para Cycling World Championships since 2019, making the 2022 event particularly special for Eltje. The Para cyclist has been in strong form recently, having carried off a silver medal in every event of the two prior 2022 Para Cycling World Cups.
We can’t wait to cheer on Eltje and the rest of the team in Canada.
Results from Québec City 2022 UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup
On day one, Eltje Malzbender claimed silver – full details of day one here.
On day two, Nicole Murray claimed bronze – full details of day two here.
On day three, Eltje Malzbender claimed silver – full details of day three here.
Full details of day four here.
| Day | Para athlete | Race | Time | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Eltje Malzbender | Women’s T1 time trial | 44:50.23, +2:15.29 behind first place | Silver |
| Day 1 | Stevo Hills | Men’s T2 time trial | 34:26.85, +2:37.28 behind first place | 6th |
| Day 2 | Fraser Sharp | Men’s C2 time trial | 26:54.95, +1:41.61 behind first place | 8th |
| Day 2 | Sarah Ellington | Women’s C2 time trial | 33:08.79`, +4:00.02 behind first place | 7th |
| Day 2 | Nicole Murray | Women’s C5 time trial | 27:12.82, +1:56.22 behind first place | Bronze |
| Day 2 | Elizabeth Gasson | Women's C3 time trial | 36:52.48, +9:35.96 behind first place | 6th |
| Day 3 | Eltje Malzbender | Women’s T1 road race | 1:11:23, +03:44 behind first place | Silver |
| Day 3 | Stevo Hills | Men’s T2 road race | 1:10:12, +01:18 behind first place | 4th |
| Day 4 | Fraser Sharp | Men’s C2 road race | 1:41:07, +02:34 behind first place | 7th |
| Day 4 | Sarah Ellington | Women's C2 road race | - 1 lap | 10th |
| Day 4 | Nicole Murray | Women's C5 road race | 1:45:50, +05:21 behind first place | 5th |
| Day 4 | Elizabeth Gasson | Women's C3 road race | - 1 lap | 6th |
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, while 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.
- 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.
