Outstanding performances by the New Zealand Para-Cycling team at the 2016 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships
The New Zealand Para-Cycling team once again showed the talent and speed of which they have long been known for at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Italy held in March this year.
Jono Hailstone, Head Performance Coach, Para-Cycling, summed up the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships, “The standout performance for the team was the women’s tandem combination of retaining their pursuit world title, and once again proving they will be the bike to beat in Rio. Emma and Laura also recorded a half-second PB in the 1km time trial, which is great progress.
Kate Horan rode a great race in the C4 Women’s 500m Time Trial, winning the bronze medal, despite two athletes before her both breaking the current world record.
It was great to see World Champs debutantes Amanda Cameron & Hannah van Kampen crack the top 5 in their key event, the 3km individual pursuit; and Byron Raubenheimer crack the top 10 in the C4 men’s 1km Time Trial, in a large and high-quality field. Both bikes still have plenty of potential to improve their performance over the next few years, and the future is looking bright for those athletes.
The 2016 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships was the final opportunity to earn UCI points contributing to the nations ranking, which determines qualifying slots for the Paralympic Games. It was also the last opportunity to race at a major international competition before the Games, and to test out protocols & strategies.
It was great to see that the overall standard of competition has improved significantly over the past 12 months, with times significantly faster across the board, and many world records broken, despite the cold track temperatures. This will keep everyone on their toes in the build up to the Rio 2016 Paralympics.”
For more information visit www.paralympics.org.nz
New Zealand Para-Cycling team results:
| NZ Time | Classification | Result |
| Friday 18 March | ||
| Fiona Southorn – C5 500m Time Trial | C5 | 9th |
| Kate Horan – C4 500m Time Trial | C4 | Bronze |
| Byron Raubenheimer – C4 1km Time Trial | C4 | 9th |
| Saturday 19 March | ||
| Emma Foy / Laura Thompson – BW 3km Pursuit | BW Tandem | Gold |
| Amanda Cameron / Hannah van Kampen – BW 3km Pursuit | BW Tandem | 5th and PB |
| Sunday 20 March | ||
| Emma Foy / Laura Thompson – BW 1km Time Trial | BW Tandem | 4th and PB |
| Amanda Cameron / Hannah van Kampen – BW 1km Time Trial | BW Tandem | 9th and PB |
| Kate Horan – C4 3km Pursuit | C4 | 6th |
| Byron Raubenheimer – C4 4km Pursuit | C4 | 16th |
| Fiona Southorn – C5 3km Pursuit | C5 | 7th |
| Kate Horan – C4 10 km Scratch race | C4 | 11th |
| Byron Raubenheimer – C4 15 km Scratch Race | C4 | 28th |
| Fiona Southorn – C5 10km Scratch Race | C5 | 8th |
| Monday 21 March | ||
| Kate Horan / Fiona Southorn / Byron Raubenheimer – C1 – C5 Team Sprint | C1 – C5 | 12th |