Team Canada earn nine medals at paracycling world cup

As Canada’s paralympic track cycling squad prepares itself for Rio, the elevated level of its program was on display at the second round of the paracycling World Cup in Ostend, Belgium. Team Canada earned five gold medals and fourth overall in the nations standings.

RELATED: Felt’s leftside-drive track bike designed specifically for the Olympics

“With a little over one hundred days to the opening of the paralympic games in Rio, it is great to see where our athletes’ fitness is,” stated Jacques Landry, high performance director at Cycling Canada. “This world cup was well represented by all top nations and so it’s reassuring to see that our program is on the right track as far as preparation is concerned. Thanks to hard working, professional and experienced staff, there is no doubt that on-going athlete assessments and continued monitoring will lead to our athletes prepared for optimal performances come September.”

RELATED: Paracycling track squad win four medals at world championships

Leading the way was Tristen Chernove who dominated the men’s C2 category by winning the time trial by nearly 14-seconds and the road race by almost three minutes.

“Getting to race our bikes in the epicenter of cycling is fantastic,” said Tristen Chernove. “It was a really great time trial for me. The course was an interesting mix of technical and difference surfaces with fairly narrow roads, tight corners, and some wind made for a challenge. The result was exactly what I was looking for. There are still elements of my ride that I can improve upon. This has been a really great event, and I look forward to coming back in the future.”

Shelley Gautier was the only women in the T1 category in both the time trial and the road race. The world champion nonetheless recorded strong times in the events.

In the men’s H3 time trial, Charles Moreau won gold and earned a silver medal in the road race finishing fourth. “It’s a great win. It’s fun to have such a result early in the season because last year I had several glitches,” said the first time world cup winner, Moreau. “It confirms that I’m in the game and I continued to progress. The world champion, Italian Podesta was not there but the guys that will be in the paralympics were present.”

Nicole Clermont earned a bronze medal in both the women’s C5 road race and time trial while Michale Sametz won a bronze medal in the men’s C3 time trial.

Canadian tandem team of Robbi Weldon and Audrey Lemieux finishing fifth with the same time as the winners in an eight-way sprint for the women’s road race title. In the men’s tandem race the team of Daniel Chalifour and Jean-Michel Lachance were fourth being edged out in a sprint for the bronze medal.