Weekend recap: Stefan Daniel triumphs in Para triathlon while Para cyclists notch seven medals

OTTAWA – Calgary’s Stefan Daniel showed mid-season form with a golden performance at the World Para triathlon Series in Yokohama, Japan while Canada’s Para cyclists paraded to the podium seven times at a World Cup in Ostend, Belgium.

Daniel, the 2016 Paralympic Games silver medallist and a three-time world champion, captured his eighth World Para triathlon Series title. He led wire-to-wire through the 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike and five-kilometre run course under ideal conditions clocking 58 minutes and 54 seconds.

“The game plan was to have a good bike and test some new things because I have been balancing training with school,” said Daniel, born with bilateral radial club hands with his right arm significantly more affected. “I was really happy with how everything went. Overall, this is the fittest and most balanced I’ve been this early in the year.”

Jessica Tuomela, of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. and her guide Marianne Hogan of Montreal were fourth in the women’s visually impaired category while Kamylle Frenette, of Dieppe, N.B., was also fourth in the women’s standing event.

Seven medals for Para cyclists in Belgium

Shelley Gautier of Toronto collected silver medals in the time trial and road race in the women’s tricycle event to lead Canada’s Para cyclists to a seven-medal performance at the second stop on the World Cup circuit. That was one better than at last week’s season opener in Italy.

Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C. was also a double medallist in the men’s C2 with silver in the time trial and bronze in the road race.

Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que. and Ross Wilson of Edmonton each added silver in their respective time trial and Joey Desjardins of Hawkesbury, Ont., was third in his hand cycle road race.

‘’All national team athletes were able to convert results into UCI points, which are critical for our Paralympic qualification,’’ said Sébastien Travers, head coach of Canada’s Para team. ‘’This is promising as these results came from both our elite national team athletes and our development group in the Next Gen program.’’