Paralympic World Cup 2008 - Manchester

 

8th May 2008 - Day 1 - Morning Session

Men's 4km Pursuit Qualification (LC1/LC2)

The World Cup action got underway with the qualification for the Mens 4km pursuit, open to athletes with upper limb disabilities or disabilities in one leg.

An earlier marker was thrown down by Czech rider Jezek who posted a very respectable 4:54.393. Miller achieved the catch in the next heat, though Zheng offered some resistance as the Irish rider tried to come over the top, with Miller posting a 5:02.215.

In the next heat Zhang almost achieved the catch on the bell lap but the Colombian put in a last gasp effort to evade the pass, with the Chinese rider posting the third fastest time so far.

Gary Williams qualified for the bronze medal final

A big cheer went up for the GB interest Russell White was competing in the LC1 category. The Czech rider started quickly, posting a 1:13 first 1km but Russell maintained his schedule as the Czech rider inevitably tired. Russell's measured strategy paid off with the GB rider starting the reel the Czech in, eventually posting a 5:08.823, going third fastest in only his 3rd pursuit competition.

Heat 6 saw Swiss rider Renggli make a quick start, who had German Bretchel in his sights after the first kilometre and achieved the catch before the halfway mark, going on to take the heat with a 5:03.983, with Bretchel posting a 5:13.189.

In heat 7 road time trial specialist Jacome (LC1) had the measure of Norwegian LC2 category rider Morten Jahr, eventually achieving the catch with two laps to go and taking the heat with a 5:16.323

The last heat had more GB interest, with Gary Williams starting in the home straight against German rider Wolfgang Sacher. The German just had the edge after the first kilometre and continued to press home his advantage with the fastest time in his sights. Sacher eventually went fastest in a thriller of a heat, qualifying for the gold medal ride-off, with Williams doing enough to qualify for the Bronze medal ride-off.

Result - Advancing to finals

Gold Medal Ride Off

Sacher (GER) 4:50.848
Jezek (CZE) 4:54.393

Bronze Medal Ride Off

Williams (GBR) 4:59.970
Miller (Ire) 5:02.215

Men's 3km Pursuit Qualification (LC3/LC4/CP3/CP4)

The 3km pursuit was contested by riders from four disability categories. LC3 and LC4 riders with disabilities affecting one or both legs respectively, with the CP3 and CP4 categories including riders with differing levels of Cerebral Palsy.

In heat 1 Tomas Kvasnicka of the Czech Republic rode alone to a 4:23.127.
In heat 2 Bouska (CP4 category) caught the Chinese LC3 rider at around the halfway mark and went on to take the heat with the best time so far, dropping under the 4 minute mark with a 3:48.985.

Heat 3 saw Zhang of China got off to a lightning start after a false start but the Irish rider came back strong and achieved the catch at half distance, eventually posting a 3:58.593, leaving him in second place overall.

Heat 4, and after a false start, Eckhard was eager to get away from the gate and posted a 1:24 first kilometre and caught Winkler a lap later. And the Spanish rider showed no signs of buckling as he went on to post a 4:02.337 - third quickest so far.

Heat 5, and World Champion and world record holder Laurent Thirionnet of France (pictured above) was up against Simon Richardson, first GB interest in the 3km competition. British Record holder Richardson posted a 1:19 first km, leading the French world record holder. At 2km, Richardson had Thirionnet in his sights and looked rock solid going into the last kilometre posting a 3:58.562 and beating his own British Record by 5 seconds.

With qualification drawing to a close, heat 6 saw Spanish rider Neira post a 1:15 opening kilometre on the way to a blistering 3:43.476, going fastest so far in the process.

Darren Kenny was in stunning form

However, the best was left to last. , World and Olympic Champion and CP3 world record holder Darren Kenny started in the home straight against French rider Michel Alcaine. Kenny started strong gapping his rival from the first lap. Kenny posted a 1:15 first km, equalling Neira's effort in the previous heat. At the 2km mark Kenny had Alcaine in his sights, achieving the catch before the bell lap and shattering his own record with a stunning 3:39.394. And this was just his qualifying performance?

Result - Progressing to finals

Gold Medal Rideoff

Kenny (GBR) 3:39.394
Neira (ESP) 3:43.476

Bronze Medal Rideoff

Bouska (CZE) 3:48.985
Alcaine (FRA) 3:50.398

Tandem Kilometre Time Trial

The tandem kilo time trial pits two partially sighted stokers against each other with sighted pilots.

Barney Storey and impressive new stoker Simon Jackson

The Colombian pairing set the pace early with a 1:10.960 but were quickly pipped into Silver medal position by the Australian outfit in the second heat. Then came the GB pairing of Storey and Jackson. A terrific roar from the crowd saw Dawson post a 20.84 opener and go on to post a stunning 1:04.982, the fastest time so far, with two heats remaining.

GB's Jon Norfolk and Anthony Kappes top the podium

Heat 4 saw drama as the German pairing lost a chain in the second lap, resulting in a restart and an early call for the other GB pairing of John Norfolk and Anthony Kappes who obliterated the competition and the world record with a 1:02.008. The rescheduled Heat 4 eventually got underway and saw Arnold of Germany narrowly pip Irishman Delaney on the line.

 

Post race reactions....

Simon Jackson: “I’m not even in my third week of cycling yet and so it is absolutely fantastic. I’ve got  anew lease of life. I’m a bit of a psychopath and I like fighting and competing – that’s why I’m on a bike now. I got a bike injury about a year and a half ago which forced me to give up judo but I still wanted to compete. I love this – it’s fantastic. Barney Storey (the tandem pilot) has been pulling me along for a couple of weeks but I think I was pushing him on that last lap.”

Anthony Kappes: “I’m pleased but I really wanted to go under 62 seconds. If we could have done that, I think we really could have sent a message to people we mean business. This is the only international competition between now and Beijing. People have called it a dress rehearsal and I think that is what it is. To come here and compete is great preparation for China.”

Result

1 Kappes/Norfolk (GBR) 1:02.008
2 Jackson/Storey (GBR) 1:04.982
3 Moll (GER) 1:06.709
4 Macfie (AUS) 1:07.998
5 Arnold (GER) 1:10.704
6 Delaney (IRE) 1:10.855
7 Arciniegas (COL) 1:10.960
8 Polderman (NED) 1:11.199
9 Fitzgerald (IRE) 1:13.214
10 Vergeylen (FRA) 1:18.151

Women's 500 TT (LC1 LC2 CP4)

An of China on the way to gold

Storey, An and Zhou

Feng Zhen An of China posted a storming 36.994 in the opening heat which threw down the gauntlet to all that followed. It was to be a Chinese 1-2 with Zhou joining her at the top of the table in the next heat. GB's Sarah Storey was up in the final heat and put in a 39.297 and set a new British record and finish in bronze medal position.

 

Sarah Storey: “The 500 is a bit of a fun event for me. The Pursuit is the main event but this shows that I’m in great form. It gives me a chance to check out the opposition, the track, and the bike – I’m really pleased with how it went.”

Result

1 An (CHN) 36.994
2 Zhou (CHN) 37.088
3 Storey (GBR) 39.297
4 Neimans (USA) 40.221
5 Tretola (SUI) 40.4
6 McLean (AUS) 44.052

Women's 500 TT (LC3 LC4 CP3)

Jones, Simanowski & Tang

The first heat was taken by Niu of China. Simanowski of Germany then went on to set a new world record with a 44.730. Last up were Jones of the USA and Paris of Australia, with Jones putting in a sterling ride to clinch bronze.

Result

1 Simanowski (GER) 44.730
2 Tang (CHN) 46.394
3 Jones (USA) 47.459
4 Niu (CHN) 48.680
5 Paris (AUS) 48.873
6 Buchan (USA) 51.380