![\"ccs-62657-0-41042900-1442220317.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ccs-62657-0-41042900-1442220317.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
<\/a>South African Craig Ridgard was elated to have won the sprint with Israel Hilario Rimas from Peru for the silver medal in the Men\u2019s C2 race on day three of the 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 13 September. Photo credit: Darren Goddard.<\/span>\n<\/div>\nFor the first time ever in a Para-cycling World Cup, all of the racing action was broadcast on live streaming with thousands of viewers being able to watch live cycling and commentary daily. Nothing however must dilute the achievements of every athlete during the last three days, which can only be described as a comprehensive triumph over life\u2019s challenges.<\/p>\n
The men\u2019s C-classes kicked off the day\u2019s action with Australia securing a gold and silver medal in the Men\u2019s C5 race after Michael Gallagher broke away on the second lap of 12 and soloed his way to victory for just over 60km.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe race was very fast in the first couple of laps,\u201d said Gallagher. \u201cI managed to take the gap after my teammate set up an attack, and it paid off. I was feeling pretty strong but still, there was 60km to go from when I first pulled away from the front. It was a long way to go but I seemed to hold the gap each lap. I gave it all that I had up the hills mainly on the last couple of laps.\u201d<\/p>\n
South African Craig Ridgard was elated to have won the sprint with Israel Hilario Rimas from Peru for the silver medal in the Men\u2019s C2 race. \u201cThe race went well, it was very hectic. But I\u2019d like to thank Cycling South Africa and the SA Para-cycling Committee for putting on a fantastic event. It is a good showcase for South Africa. I\u2019m at the end of my season; I\u2019ve been racing since January so I\u2019m running on fumes. I\u2019m very grateful about getting a silver medal and it is good to end my season this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tandem races for the visually impaired riders produced yet another thrilling display of cycling. The blind or visually impaired cyclists sit at the back of the bike, which is co-powered by their pilot up front. The men\u2019s race saw Carlos Gonzalez Garcia and Noel Martin Infante (ESP) power to a decisive victory after leading the way for three quarters of the race. Their compatriots Ignacio Rodriguez and Joan Bertoli claimed silver while Great Britain\u2019s Stephen Bate and Adam Duggleby won the bronze medal in a sprint finish against Canada.<\/p>\n
A three-way sprint in the women\u2019s tandem race saw Great Britain\u2019s Lora Turnham and Corrine Hall claim the victory against an independent team from Belgium (2nd) and the Spanish team (3rd). \u201cIt was fantastic to race against the best bikes in the world and come away with a win in the time trial and road race. It is a great way to finish off the last World Cup race of 2015. South Africa has been good to us!\u201d said Turnham.<\/p>\n Anna Harkowska made a decisive attack on German Kerstin Brachtendorf within the final kilometre to claim the gold medal in the women\u2019s C5 race. \u201cI\u2019m very happy with my first place. I had cramp when I stood out of the saddle; when it is cold I suffer from cramp but I finished well. It is interesting for all the countries to be here in South Africa, but we need more people to come and watch us. I think this event, with television, has been fantastic. This morning I could watch the tandem race and I learned some tactics. It is also good for those sitting at home, and the coverage has been great.\u201d<\/p>\n The team relay wrapped up a brilliant weekend of racing in the southern hemisphere, with Team USA taking top honours. Three riders from each team took to the shortened 1.4km lap to complete nine laps (three laps each). Belgium finished second with Germany in third.<\/p>\n \u201cThe team relay is one race that we\u2019re always strong at,\u201d said American Oscar Sanchez (H5). \u201cBut its all about execution as a team \u2013 no one wins it individually obviously. Looking at the results from everybody\u2019s relay efforts, we were stacked to win, so at this point it was only our race to lose. I just kept talking to my team because we\u2019ve lost the race to ourselves several times this season. We pulled it off and at the end of the day it\u2019s a win, and we are World Cup leaders and I\u2019m happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Cycling South Africa Para-cycling Commission Director, Dr Mike Burns, said that the team was in high spirits and felt immense pride at their medal haul after the first two days of action.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no quarter asked and none given in this level of the game, so to be first in the medal rankings yesterday is amazing,\u201d said Burns. \u201cTogether with Friday\u2019s time trial and yesterday\u2019s road races we are third in terms of the nation\u2019s ranking and we have never achieved anything like that before.\u201d<\/p>\n Commenting on the event, Cycling SA President William Newman said: \u201cThe event has been absolutely wonderful. The riders have shown that they are capable, they don’t look at themselves as being disabled at all, and they are here to compete at their best level and to bring honour to their country. There have been phenomenal performances across all the classes. Well done to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup \u2013 Pietermaritzburg (11-13 September 2015) had two competition venues with the time trial competition staged in the Midmar Dam complex on Friday 11 September and the road races in the city of Pietermaritzburg using Alexandra Park as the official competition venue on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. For more information, visit: http:\/\/www.cyclingsa.com\/2015-uci-para-road-world-cup\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>Australia secured a gold and silver medal in the Men\u2019s C5 race after Michael Gallagher broke away on the second lap of 12 and soloed his way to victory on day three of the 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 13 September. Photo credit: Darren Goddard<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a>The team relay wrapped up a brilliant weekend of racing in the southern hemisphere, with Team USA taking top honours on day three of the 2015 UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 13 September. Photo credit: Darren Goddard<\/span><\/p>\nSummary of results \u2013 2015 Para-cycling Road World Cup Pietermaritzburg<\/h2>\n