After four days of competition on the track, para-cycling will continue at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024 with the road events from Wednesday 4 to Saturday 7 September.
In this first of two para-cycling road previews, we concentrate on the individual time trials (ITT) which all take place on the first day of road competition.
Women’s C: never-ending Storey?
The Women C5 athletes will get the ball rolling on Wednesday, with all eyes on Great Britain’s Dame Sarah Storey. At the age of 46, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion and 2023 UCI World Champion is set for another record-breaking gold... but the competition is tough, not least with the other two medalists from last year’s UCI World Championships, Alana Forster (AUS) and Heïdi Gaugain (FRA), both making their Paralympic debut in Paris.
The Women's C4 ITT brings together the American powerhouses Shawn Morelli (reigning Paralympic Champion) and Samantha Bosco (reigning UCI World Champion) who will face, among others, Australia’s Emily Petricola, crowned Paralympic Champion on the track last Friday, in the individual pursuit.
Among contenders in the Women's C1-3 Individual ITT are defending Paralympic Champion Keiko Sugiura (JPN) and her runner-up in Tokyo Anna Beck (SWE), who is reigning C3 UCI World Champion.
Men’s C: youth versus experience
In the Men's ITTs, the C5 race will feature UCI World and Paralympic Champion Daniel Abraham Gebru (NED), with challengers including in-form 25-year-old Frenchman Dorian Foulon, who already has a Paralympic title on the track from these Games.
In the Men's C4 ITT look out for another Frenchman, Kevin le Cunff, who is looking to overturn the frustration of two fourth places on the track in the last few days. Also in the mix will be Jozef Metelka (SVK) who has just retained his Paralympic title in the 1000m time trial on the track.
Can Germany’s Matthias Schindler top the C3 ITT or will challengers such as Britain’s young Finlay Graham catch up with the 41-year-old?
In the C2 classification Alexandre Léauté (FRA) is in compelling form judging from his medals on the track, but experienced campaigners such as Ewoud Vromant (BEL) and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion Darren Hicks (AUS) won’t give up without a fight.
There are also experienced and decorated riders in the Men's C1 race, not least Spain’s Ricardo Ten Argiles and Germany’s Michael Teuber.
Women’s H: Defending Paralympic Champions in the mix
In the Women's H4-5 ITT, the three medalists from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are on the Entry List: H5 riders reigning Paralympic Champion Oksana Masters (USA) and her runner-up Bianbian Sun (CHN), as well as H4 rider and bronze medalist Jennette Jansen (NED).
In the Women's H1-3 ITT eyes will be on defending Paralympic Champion Annika Zeyen-Giles (GER) and silver medalist, the incredibly experienced Italian Francesca Porcellato.
Men’s H: Dutch powerhouse
Reigning Paralympic and UCI World Champion Mitch Valize (NED) will be looking for more success in the Men's H5 class. His older countryman Tim de Vries may be his strongest competition. Another Dutchman, Jetze Plat, is favourite in H4, but Frenchmen Mathieu Bosredon and Joseph Fritsch would happily upset the odds. Continuing the Netherlands’ strength, Mark Mekenkamp UCI World Champion in H3 ITT, is back to defend his title.
The Men's H2 ITT could provide another great fight between UCI World Champion Sergio Garrote Muñoz (ESP) and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion Florian Jouanny (FRA).
One of the favourites in the Men’s H1 sport class is Nicolas Pieter du Preez, who will be flying the flag solo for South Africa. Challengers include Belgium’s younger Maxime Hordies.
Men’s and Women’s T: a world of talent
The Men's T1-2 time trial will see Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion Chen Jianxin (CHN) going for
gold. The man who beat him at the last UCI World Championships, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland (Great Britain), is 29-year-old Nathan Clement from Canada. Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Giorgio Farroni (ITA) will also be at the start, while T2 riders to look out for include Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Tim Celen (BEL) and Germany’s Maximilian Jäger.
In the Women's T1-2 ITT, Germany put their hopes in Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Champion, Jana Majunke (GER). Also look out for Celine van Till (SUI), Emma Lund (DEN) and Czechia’s Pavlína Vejvodová.
Women’s and Men’s B: stoking the flames
The last time trials on Wednesday are on the tandems. In the Women's B ITT, Ireland’s Katie-George Dunlevy will want to repeat last year’s success from Scotland. Competition will come from Great Britain’s Sophie Unwin and the experienced Lora Fachie. In the Women’s B individual pursuit on the track on Sunday, the title went to Unwin, followed by Dunlevy and Fachie. Anne Sophie Centis (FRA) should not be overlooked in the road time trial.
In the men’s B ITT, France will also want a shot with Elie De Carvalho, but there will be focus on the two Dutch tandems, with the younger Tristan Bangma going head-to-head with the more experienced Vincent ter Schure. Great Britain will be hoping for a great performance from Stephen Bate.
Para-cycling sport classes
C – Cycle: conventional bike with adaptations if necessary
T – Tricycle: three-wheeled bike
B – Tandem: for visually impaired athletes with sighted pilot
H – Handcycle
Groups C (1-5), T (1-2) and H (1-5) are divided into different sport classes, with the lower the number indicating a higher level of impairment.