Gautier and Clement conclude opening World Cup on the podium

Photo UCI: start of men’s H3 including Canadians Charles Moreau and Joey Desjardins

ADELAIDE, Australia – Shelley Gautier of Niagara Falls, Ont. and Nathan Clement of West Vancouver each collected their second medal Wednesday as Canada concluded a very successful season opening Para cycling World Cup road event.

The Canadians finished the three-day competition with nine medals (one gold, four silver and four bronze).

In the women’s T1 (tricycle) road race, Eltje Malzbender of New Zealand won the gold medal in 59 minutes and 42 seconds followed by Gautier, also the silver medallist in the time trial, 2:41 back of the winner. Fotima Saipova of Uzbekistan was third.

Gautier, an 18-time world champion, was Canada’s co-flag bearer in the Opening Ceremony at the Parapan American Games this past November in Santiago, Chile.

Clement, the time trial world champion last summer, earned his second bronze in a very close men’s T1 race. Rongfei Lu of China was the winner in 45:56, his compatriot Jianxin Chen second five seconds back and Clement was just 12 seconds behind the winner.

Joey Desjardins of Hawkesbury, Ont. finished in a pack of five riders 40 seconds behind the winner Martino Pini of Italy in the 54.6 kilometre men’s H3 road race (hand cycle). The Canadian world championship bronze medallist in 2022 was ranked fourth.

Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que., third in the time trial Monday, was fifth 1:04 behind top spot.

Kara Douville of Calgary was fifth in the women’s H4 and Louis Albert Corriveau-Jolin of Sainte-Claire, Que. was eighth in the men’s T2.

Canadian medallists at Para cycling World Cup which ended Wednesday in Adelaide, Australia:

GOLD

Alexandre Hayward, Quispamsis, N.B., men’s C3 time trial

SILVER

Shelley Gautier, Niagara Falls, Ont., women’s T1 time trial

Gautier, women’s T1 road race

Hayward, men’s C3 road race

Lowell Taylor, Lethbridge, Alta, and pilot Ed Veal, Toronto, men’s B road race

BRONZE

Nathan Clement, West Vancouver, men’s T1 time trial

Clement, men’s T1 road race

Carla Shibley, Calgary and pilot Meghan Brown, Calgary, women’s B road race

Charles Moreau, Victoriaville, Que., men’s H3 time trial