2012 Season Kicks off in Florida
Monday, 06 February 2012 14:31
The 2012 U.S. Handcycling Series kicked off Sunday in Florida, with 70+ handcyclists taking the start line at the Top End / Paralyzed Veterans Euro America Championship, part of the Melbourne & Beaches Music Marathon.
An elite field that included numerous current and former world champions from 10+ countries took the start line at 10:30 a.m. in mild conditions.
In the men's race, an elite group formed quickly that included Invacare Top End teammates Joel Jeannot (H3, France), Ernst Van Dyk (H4, South Africa), Mark Ledo (H3, Canada), Dane Pilon (H4, USA), Chris Peterson (H4, USA), and Krige Schabort (H3, South Africa). A chase group was headed up by Mark Beggs (H2, Canada), Scott McNeice (H4, USA), Christian Pinkernell (H3, AUT), Matt Updike (H2, USA), Mike Postell (H3, USA), David Randall (H2, USA), Carlos Moleda (H3, USA) and Scot Hollonbeck (H3, USA). Updike took a turn too hot and ran off the course in to some thick grass, while Mcneice led the charge as the best-placed 50+ rider.
The lead group stayed together until the final 1 km of the 1:10:04 race and a thrilling -- albeit very early -- sprint ensued on the 800 meter finish stretch. After Jeannot launched the sprint, Pilon countered, which was then countered by Van Dyk. Van Dyk proved the strongest, taking the overall win and the H4 victory after an agonizingly long sprint. Pilon was 2nd -- for the third year in a row -- with Jeannot taking 3rd and the H3 win. Beggs showed good form -- he is typically faster in the early season -- by finishing first of the chase group for the H2 win, and McNeice had a strong race to take the Master's 50+ title. Read More...
Greenville, SC selected to host 2014 Para-cycling Road Worlds
Monday, 30 January 2012 15:42
International Sporting Event Will Return to U.S. After 16 Years
GREENVILLE, S.C. (January 30, 2012) – The world governing body of professional cycling Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) selected Greenville, S.C. to host the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in September 2014. This event is projected to include more than 450 athletes and 200 coaches and staff from over 45 countries. The Para-Cycling Road World Championships have not been hosted by an American city since Colorado Springs, Colo. in 1998.
The five-day competition is scheduled for August 28-September 1, 2014, which is Labor Day weekend. Races will include the individual time trial and road race disciplines for men, women and teams. The handcycle relay is a team discipline that has become a showcase event for spectators. All athletes compete in categorized events using bicycles that are adapted to his/her abilities: traditional or adapted bicycle, tandem, tricycle or handcycle.
“The UCI is delighted to be returning to the United States with the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in 2014. The UCI particularly looks forward to this event in South Carolina, as a World Championship event brings a high level of global attention and acts as an important vector for growth of cycling at regional and national level,” said UCI President Pat McQuaid. “The huge interest in this major international event further confirms the growth of the Para-cycling movement worldwide.”
Read the Complete Press Release (.pdf)
More information can be found on the official event website: Greenville2014.us
U.S. Team Caps Season with Success @ ParaPanams
Wednesday, 23 November 2011 21:19
Team USA successfully closed out the cycling competition at the 2011 Parapan American Games, winning eight medals in the road race on Saturday.
Gold medalists included Oz Sanchez (San Diego, Calif.) in the men’s H2-4 category, Monica Bascio (Evergreen, Colo.) in the women’s H3-4 event and Greta Neimanas (Chicago, Ill.) in the women’s C1-5 race.
“I love the discipline of training,” said Bascio. “It’s very hard to manage it all having a young son, but my husband is so supportive in helping to make it work. I’m definitely working toward London and the 2012 Paralympic Games. I’m very goal-oriented, so if I want to make it happen, I will.”
“I was really glad we had the opportunity to start the race with the men because it made for a good field size,” said Neimanas. “We were able to hang in the front group for a good while and work with our teammate Mike to help him get a medal, too. I’m really happy to come away with the win.”
Neimanas is referring to teammate Mike Farrell (Colorado Springs, Colo.) who claimed silver in the men’s C1-3 race. Joining Farrell with silver medals were the tandem team of Karissa Whitsell (Eugene, Ore.) and pilot Lisa Turnbull (Springfield, Ore.), Steve Peace (San Diego, Calif.) in the mixed T1-2 category, Matt Updike (Denver, Colo.) in the men’s H2-4 race and Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colo.) in the women’s C1-5 event.
“This has been an absolutely amazing experience here in Guadalajara,” said Sanchez. “My family is from here, so for me it’s the motherland, I call it ‘the source.’ It’s been great to be able to come race here.”
Head coach and director of Paralympic Cycling High Performance Craig Griffin was pleased with not only today’s road race, but how the U.S. cyclists performed overall.
Team USA collected a total of 24 medals between the road and track cycling, winning the overall medal count in both disciplines. On the road, the U.S. picked up 12 medals (five gold, six silver and one bronze) and earned an equal number on the track that included four gold, five silver and three bronze.
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