UCI Cycling World Championships: the fighting spirit of para-cyclist Oksana Masters

Revenge for Oksana Masters.

Following two days of time trials, the battle for para-cycling road race glory got under way in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, today as part of the UCI Cycling World Championships taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland.

Among the highlight performances was that of USA’s most successful Paralympic athlete, Oksana Masters, who shrugged off her disappointment in the time trial disappointment to win road race gold.

Women H5: Masters edges it

“I know what I have in me and I have found that fire to love racing again… and I STILL HAVE A LOT OF FIGHT LEFT IN ME for Team USA.” Oksana Masters, who’s won gold medals at both the summer and winter Paralympic Games, took to Instagram on Wednesday to remind her fans that she’s still ready for the fight after a puncture left her dreams of a time trial medal in tatters.

That fight and resilience was evident in the Women H5 road race (46.8km) today as she dug deep and beat the Netherlands’ Chantal Haenan, who won that time trial on Wednesday. It took a photo finish to separate the two. Germany’s Andrea Eskau finished third.

“Dreams do come true. Thank you UCI Para-cycling,” the 34-year-old tweeted afterwards. With 17 medals (in skiing, rowing and cycling) Masters is the USA’s most decorated Paralympic athlete.

Born in the Ukraine - three years after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster - with birth defects to her limbs and some organs – Masters was adopted by an American and brought up in New York. At 13 she became interested in rowing, moved onto skiing and then juggled that with handcycling, excelling in all three. Now, she can look ahead to Paris 2024 with renewed optimism after a difficult year of injury, surgery and rehabilitation.

Men H4: Van de Steene springs a surprise

All eyes were on Jetze Plat in the Men H4 road race after the 32-year-old Dutch legend rode to his 11th UCI World title in Wednesday’s time trial. But it was not to be as, a rare occurrence for Plat, he finished outside the medals in fifth. Plat’s loss was down to an incredible effort from the leading trio of Jonas van de Steene (BEL), Mathieu Bosredon (FRA) and Thomas Frühwirth (AUT).

Frühwirth made a bold manoeuvre on the penultimate corner of the 62.4km race, only to be overtaken by Bosredon. The Frenchman had not been far off beating Plat in the time trial on Wednesday and looked like claiming victory this time, but it was not to be.

Van de Steene shadowed Bosredon down the final straight, moved beside him with metres to go, and just edged passed to deny Bosredon the victory. Frühwirth took bronze 6 seconds back from the first two, who recorded the same time.

Men H1: Maxime Hordies for Belgium

Belgium won another gold medal on Friday thanks to Maxime Hordies' victory in the Men H1 46.8km road race. Hordies retained the title he won in Baie-Comeau, Canada, last year by beating Italy’s Fabrizio Cornegliani (silver) and American Barry Wilcox (bronze).

“I often stayed in the wheel of the Italian and the South African (Nicolas Pieter du Preez, who was later disqualified) who kept a good tempo throughout the race. In the last corner, I accelerated 400m from the finish line,” Hordies said after the finish line. “It’s been a dream end to the season for me. The fact that I can keep my title is the result of hard work, but I also have to thank the great staff by my side.”

Full results and live timing on the UCI website.

Brief explanation of para-cycling sport classes

  • C – Cycle: conventional bike with adaptations if necessary

  • T – Tricycle: three-wheeled bike

  • B – Tandem: for blind or visually impaired athlete 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 greater impairment.