CYCLING

Cycling stars selected to compete at UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

By Paralympics New Zealand

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is thrilled to announce the selection of the New Zealand Para-Cycling team to complete at the 2015 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland from 28 August – 2 September.

The five strong team is the first New Zealand Para-Cycling team to compete at a World Championships across each of the four cycling divisions - tricycle (T), handcycle (H), standard bike (C), and tandem bike (B).

The team will first contest the third round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Elzach (Germany), prior to heading to the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Nottwil (Switzerland).

Jono Hailstone (Head Performance Coach, Para-Cycling) says, "We are sending a small but extremely competitive team.  The team is headed up by defending Time Trial World Champion Tim Williams (H1 men) and 2014 Time Trial Silver medallists Emma Foy & Laura Thompson (Women's tandem). Two new additions to the team include Fraser Sharp (C3 men), who recently finished 5th at the opening round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Maniago (Italy) and was within 30 seconds of finishing on the podium. Fraser is joined by Stephen Hills, who is new to competing in the T2 men's class. Stephen showed significant improvement in a very short space of time, going from 11th in the Time Trial in the opening round of the World Cup in Maniago, to 6th in both the Time Trial and Road Race in Yverdon-les-Bains.” 

He continues, “We believe Stephen has the potential to continue to improve rapidly and make further gains leading into the World Championships in 6 weeks time. The event will also provide vital racing experience for Stephen, who has very limited opportunities to race in an international men's trike field. This racing experience will play a pivotal role in Stephen’s development as a trike rider, and his progress towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The goals for this team are very clear: we're going to the World Championships to win medals. For the road-only athletes, this is their last pinnacle event before the Rio 2016 Paralympics, so is an important opportunity for them to put their case forward for Rio selection."



Emma Foy & Laura Thompson.  Credit: Dianne Manson.



Tim Williams.  Credit: Katrina Robinson Photography

Full team list includes:
Athlete name              Classification               Resides
Emma Foy                  Tandem B                   Cambridge
Laura Thompson
(nee Fairweather) -     Pilot  Tandem B         Cambridge
Stephen Hills              T2 (trike)                     New Plymouth
Fraser Sharp              C3 (standard bike)     Tauranga
Tim Williams               H1 (handcycle)           Ngatea


Staff Name                 Role                                    Resides
Jono Hailstone           Head Performance Coach  Cambridge
Stu McDonald            National Assistant Coach    Cambridge
Emily Smith                Manager                             Auckland
Peter Alexander         Mechanic                            Auckland
Justin Ralph               Physiotherapist                   Hamilton


Event information and results - http://www.wm-paracycling2015.ch/en/





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