Paralympic champions ready for first World Cup

The 2019 UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup kicks off in Corridonia, Italy, on 9 May as athletes look to secure as many points for the rankings as possible ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Rio 2016 gold medallist Paolo Cecchetto (MH3) will be one of Italy’s strongest candidates for first place in both the road race and time trial. The hosts are also hopeful of landing gold through Paralympic champions Luca Mazzone (MH2), Vittorio Podesta (MH3) and Alex Zanardi (MH5).

Five-time Paralympic gold medallist Michael Teuber (MC1) will lead the German team, who aim to top the World Cup standings for a second successive year.

He will be joined in the team by three Rio 2016 champions: Hans-Peter Durst (MT2), Vico Merklein (MH4) and Steffen Warias (MC3).

Canadian Tristen Chernove (MC2); Brazilian Lauro Cesar Chaman (MC5); Colombian Alejandro Perea Arango (MC2); Dutchmen Daniel Abraham Gebru (MC5) and Jetze Plat (MH4); and Peruvian Israel Hilario Rimas (MC2) are other male cyclists to keep an eye on.

On the women’s side, Australia’s three-time Paralympic champion Carol Cooke (WT2) will be the one to beat. Poland will present a strong team headlined by Rio 2016 gold medallists Iwona Podkoscielna and pilot Aleksandra Teclaw (WB).

Also battling for gold will be US cyclists Shawn Morelli (WC4) and Jamie Whitmore (WC3).

The World Cup circuit will continue in Ostend, Belgium, between 16-19 May, while the final events will take place in Baie-Comeau, Canada, from 8-11 August.

More information about the competition is available on UCI’s website.