First medal for New Zealand Para-Cyclists at UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships
22 March 2016, 2:46PM
Paralympics New Zealand
The New Zealand Para-Cycling team took to the track today with three Para-Athletes (three bikes) competing on the first day of the 2016 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in the Italy.
Kate Horan was first to compete in the Women’s C4 500m TT Final winning the bronze medal. Kate said, “There were some top class performances out there today. The world record was smashed twice before I was due to ride so I knew there was quite a bit of pressure on me. It is always such a buzz to be on the podium and I was pleased with my bronze medal performance today.”
Jono Hailstone (Head Performance Coach Para-Cycling, Paralympics New Zealand) said, “It was pleasing to see that Kate maintained her position as a 500m Time Trial medallist despite her switch of focus to the 3000m Pursuit ahead of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.”
Kate will compete in her preferred event, the Women’s C4 3km Pursuit on Sunday (NZT).
Team mate Bryon Raubeheimer made his World Championships debut with a strong performance in the Men’s C4 1km Time Trial finishing 9th.
Stu MacDonald (Support Performance Coach, Paralympics New Zealand) said, “ Byron executed a really good race and did exactly what was asked of him at his World Championship debut. He rode an awesome first 3 laps before fading in lap 4 however he persisted to hold on for a fantastic top 10 position, achieving his goal for this race.”
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Jono Hailstone (Head Performance Coach Para-Cycling) with Kate Horan – bronze medallist in the Women’s C4 500m Time Trial at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships. Photo © Paralympics New Zealand.
The final Kiwi Para-Cyclist competing today was London 2012 Paralympian Fiona Southorn. Fiona competed in the Women’s C5 500m Time Trial finishing 9th. She looks forward to her next event, the Women’s C5 3km Pursuit on Sunday (NZT).
Tomorrow will see the World Championship tandem pairing of Emma Foy/Laura Thompson looking to defend their title for a second consecutive year in the Women’s B 3km Pursuit. They will be joined by team mates and tandem pairing Amanda Cameron/Hannah van Kampen (see schedule below).
Event schedule for 2016 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships starting 18 March:
| NZ Time | Classification | Result |
| Friday 18 March | ||
| Fiona Southorn - C5 500m Time Trial | C5 | 9th |
| Kate Horan – C4 500m Time Trial | C4 | Bronze |
| Byron Raubenheimer - C4 1km Time Trial | C4 | 9th |
| Saturday 19 March | ||
| Emma Foy / Laura Thompson – BW 3km Pursuit | BW Tandem | |
| Amanda Cameron / Hannah van Kampen – BW 3km Pursuit | BW Tandem | |
| Sunday 20 March | ||
| Emma Foy / Laura Thompson – BW 1km Time Trial | BW Tandem | |
| Amanda Cameron / Hannah van Kampen – BW 1km Time Trial | BW Tandem | |
| Kate Horan – C4 3km Pursuit | C4 | |
| Byron Raubenheimer – C4 3km Pursuit | C4 | |
| Fiona Southorn – C5 3km Pursuit | C5 | |
| Kate Horan – C4 10 km Scratch race | C4 | |
| Byron Raubenheimer – C4 15 km Scratch Race | C4 | |
| Fiona Southorn – C5 10km Scratch Race | C5 | |
| Monday 21 March | ||
| Kate Horan / Fiona Southorn / Byron Raubenheimer - C1 – C5 Team Sprint | C1 – C5 |
Event website: http://www.giubileodisabiliroma.it/