Australia tops medal tally at UCI Para-cycling World Cup

Australia’s para-cyclists have completed a successful home World Cup, topping the medal tally in South Australia this week.

Aussie riders won 26 medals, including 13 gold, in the opening round of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup that finished yesterday in Tailem Bend.

It was just the second time the event has been staged down under, and the host nation took full advantage. Australia had 43 starters in the event, of which 13 were members of the ARA Australian Cycling Team (the remainder entered as individual riders).

On Saturday, things couldn’t have started any better as Australia won gold in the opening event, the handcycling mixed relay in Adelaide’s city centre. Alexander Welsh, Lauren Parker and Grant Allen bested the United States by 19 seconds over the 12.2-kilometre race, which was held on the same circuit as the Tour Down Under’s criterium.

On Monday, athletes moved to The Bend Motorsport Park, which hosted the remainder of the events. Australia dominated the individual time trials, winning six events. They included victories to scratch race world champion Alana Forster and Paralympic gold medallists Paige Greco, Emily Petricola and Darren Hicks.

Tuesday and Wednesday saw Australia claim a further six gold medals in the road races. Alistair Donohoe took a solo victory, Parker completed a clean sweep of her handcycling events, and Greco, Petricola, Hicks and Kaitlyn Schurmann all doubled up on their time trial wins.

Lauren Parker won three gold medals in Adelaide.

“It’s been a dream of mine to win solo at a Road World Cup or World Championships,” Hicks said about his road race victory. “It was great to have the confidence to back yourself, to go solo, and hold off a group of guys who are trying to chase you down.

“In the time trial, I hit my numbers almost exactly. It was fast, the conditions were great.”

Hicks, who lives in Adelaide, said it was “weird” to race on the local track, rather than on the other side of the world.

“It was a bit weird, actually, to see Adelaide on a banner – to have an Australian name, let alone your home town. As well as just being able to drive down the road to the race, we know the course, we know the conditions.

“Nothing’s going to match how home feels. Being in your own backyard.”

Some riders will now turn their attention to the velodrome for the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Brazil, while others will be planning a trip to Europe to complete the Road World Cup in May, ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.

Medal tally

Medal results – Australia

Mixed Team Relay

• 1st – Alexander Welsh, Lauren Parker, Grant Allen

Individual Time Trial

• 1st – Kaitlyn Schurmann – Women C1
• 1st – Paige Greco – Women C3
• 1st – Emily Petricola – Women C4
• 1st – Alana Forster – Women C5
• 1st – Lauren Parker – Women H3
• 1st – Darren Hicks – Men C2

• 2nd – David Nicholas – Men C3
• 2nd – Emma Mickle – Women C3
• 2nd – Alistair Donohoe – Men C5

• 3rd – Madelene McNeil and Laura Auberson (pilot) – Women B
• 3rd – Amanda Reid – Women C2
• 3rd – Meg Lemon – Women C4
• 3rd – Kieran Murphy and Michael Freiberg (pilot) – Men B
• 3rd – Stuart Jones – Men T2

Road Race

• 1st – Kaitlyn Schurmann – Women C1
• 1st – Paige Greco – Women C3
• 1st – Emily Petricola – Women C4
• 1st – Lauren Parker – Women H3
• 1st – Darren Hicks – Men C2
• 1st – Alistair Donohoe – Men C5

• 2nd – Amanda Reid – Women C2

• 3rd – Emma Mickle – Women C3
• 3rd – Meg Lemon – Women C4
• 3rd – David Nicholas – Men C3
• 3rd – Kieran Murphy and Michael Freiberg (pilot) – Men B

Photos: Jean-Baptiste Benavent