OSTEND, Belgium – Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C., stepped two times to the podium and Michael Sametz of Calgary won time trial gold as Canada launched the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup season with several medal performances.
Sametz, the reigning time trial world champion, won the C3 men’s ITT event clocking 39 minutes and 09.42 seconds. He was more than 35 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer Benjamin Watson of Britain. There were 19 riders in the field.
“It was a bit windy out there today, but otherwise conditions were good,’’ said Sametz. ‘’I’m glad to see the improvements I have made for this year.”
Shelley Gautier of Toronto was also first in the women’s tricycle time trial and road race.
Chernove, a triple medallist at the 2016 Paralympic Games and a five-time world champion last season, collected silver in the time trial and bronze in the road race in the C2 class.
“Tristen opened this first World Cup with a solid performance,’’ said Canada’s national Para cycling coach Sebastien Travers. ‘’This is a very good result as it’s still early in the season. This event allowed us to refine our racing strategy, in the hopes that it is fully established for the road worlds in August.
Also on the podium with silver medals in the time trial events were Marie-Claude Molnar of St-Hubert, Que., in the women’s C4 and Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que., in the men’s handcycle.
“It was an amazing result,” said Moreau, who faced 36 riders in his event. “I was not expecting to finish second at this first World Cup; It’s the beginning of the year so it is always hard to know where you fit. I was sick for the last month, which was a setback, so I was less confident for this race and I’m happily surprised.”
Laval wins CWBL title
National team members David Eng and Cindy Ouellet scored 16 points apiece to lead the Gladiateurs de Laval to a 57-41 victory over Team B.C. in the gold medal game at the 2018 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball League Championships.
The competition was held this past weekend in Martensville, Sask., just outside Saskatoon.
Team Saskatchewan won the bronze medal defeating the Alberta Northern Lights 67-51.
USA beats Canada at women’s Para ice hockey World Cup
An Erica Mitchell goal gave the USA a 1-0 victory over Canada and the gold medal in the second Women’s International Para Ice Hockey Cup held in Ostrava, Czech Republic this past week.
It was the USA’s second gold in the competition following the triumph in the first edition in Brampton, Canada, four years ago which ended with a 5-1 win over the hosts.
