Team China’s Zhangyu Li continued his domination, Saturday, at the Rio Velodrome where he earned his second Paralympic title of the Games. Elsewhere on the track, Team GB’s Kadeena Cox was the author of a stunning upset, dethroning Sarah Storey in the Time Trial.
After his recent win in the C1 pursuit event, Zhangyu Li added another Paralympic title in Rio with a masterful performance in the C1-2-3 time-trial. Li finished just ahead of The Netherlands’ Arnoud Nijhuis (+1.321 seconds) – Nijhuis being the current time-trial World Champion in the C1 class.
"I am so happy, this is what I have worked for. I cannot really explain how I feel but it just means so much to me. I am proud of what I have done," exclaimed Zhangyu Li.
In addition to defending his London 2012 Paralympic title, the 28-year-old Chinese athlete set a new world record in his category, covering the 1000 meters in 1 minute, 11.937 seconds.
Canada’s Tristen Chernove, C2 time-trial World Champion, took the bronze medal, coming in +2.905 seconds behind the gold medal time. Already a silver medallist in the pursuit at the Rio Games, the 41-year-old para-cyclist lowered the Paralympic time in his class, stopping the clock at 1 minute 14.716 seconds.
Astonishing performance from Kadeena Cox The most amazing performance of the day occurred in Women’s racing, as Kadeena Cox won top honours in the C4-5 time-trial. Already a para-athletics bronze medallist in Rio, 25-year-old Cox demolished the C4 world record, covering the distance in 35.716 seconds.
"I can't believe it, I have only been doing this for a year and a half but I've worked so hard for it. I feel on top of the world now,” enthused Cox.
Cox defeated Team China’s Jufang Zhou, who took home the silver in a time of 36.004 seconds – a new C5 world record. Zhou’s teammate Ruan Jianping (+1.959 seconds) cruised in for the bronze, the same colour of medal she earned at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Sarah Storey, Queen of the London 2012 Paralympic Games, where she won all four events she started, couldn’t reach the podium today and had to settle for fourth place. The 38-year-old Briton already has a gold medal from Thursday’s pursuit event.
Alyda Norbruis earns her first Paralympic title There was a lot of excitement in Women’s racing, as the C1-2-3 time-trial was won by The Netherlands’ Alyda Norbruis in 39.631 seconds – a C2 world record. Australia’s Amanda Reid (+ 0.673 seconds), earned silver at this, the 19-year-old’s first Paralympic Games.
"I have done a lot of training and I knew I was in good form. I knew the girl from Australia had set a very good time just before me, so I just went out and did my best," stated Norbruis, who had won the silver medal in the event at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. "It feels incredible. It is only just sinking in that I have won the gold. I began to realise it only on the podium ceremony, but I will celebrate for sure," added the 27-year-old native of The Netherlands.
This is the second medal of the Games for the four-time UCI time-trial World Champion, who also won bronze in C1-2-3 pursuit event Thursday.
Finishing +3.112 behind Norbruis, China’s Zhenling Song (C2) rounded out the podium. Team Great Britain’s Megan Giglia set a new C3 world record with a time of 41.252 seconds; she finished in fifth place.
Josef Metelka – King of the Pursuit Three-time UCI World Champion in the pursuit, Jozef Metelka was once again crowned ‘King of the Pursuit’ in the C4 Class. After having established a new Paralympic record of 4 minutes 29.112 seconds during qualifications, the native of Slovakia went on to defeat Australia’s Kyle Bridgwood in the final.
Metelka already has a silver medal to his name from this Games, having won the C4-5 Time Trial – not at all bad for his first Paralympic Games.
The bronze medal went to Colombia’s Diego German Duenas Gomez, who defeated American Scott Martin in the other final.
In C5, the Ukraine’s Yehor Dementyev snagged the pursuit gold medal, defeating Australia’s Alistair Donohoe in the final. Dementyev, at 29-years-old, is generally known for his prowess in road events; this is his first Paralympic medal for a track event.
Colombia’s Edwin Fabian Matiz Ruiz reached the third spot on the podium, after having bested Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Chaman in the bronze medal final.
ALL RESULTS