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
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 |
