CANADA GRABS THREE WINS OF OPENING TIME TRIAL AT UCI WORLD CUP IN ROME

(Rome, ITA – May 25, 2012) The 2012 UCI Para-cycling World Cup started today in Rome, Italy with a time trial race, and Canada’s para-cyling team wasted no time to show they are in top form for this Paralympic season, grabbing three victories.

The tandem of Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette, as well tricyclists Marie-Ève Croteau and Shelley Gautier all came out victorious on this opening day.

Racing the historic city of Rome, in Italy, the Weldon/Bessette tandem took the victory in the time trials, completing the 20.8-kilometre course with the fastest time of 25:59.72 The powerful duo crossed the line with a 10 second lead over second place, the tandem from Ireland. The Canadian tandem of Geneviève Ouellette and Emilie Roy placed eighth.

“Many thanks to the staff, everything was set-up for a nice race. The winter training brought a good start to the season, and the Tour of Belgium was great to prepare for this event,” said Robbi Weldon, from Rome.

In the men’s tandem race, Daniel Chalifour and Alexandre Cloutier narrowly missed the podium, three seconds behind the third place, to take the fourth place.

In the tricycle races, both Shelley Gautier and Marie-Ève Croteau won their respective 10.4-km races, remaining undefeated so far this season. Both riders wore the coveted Rainbow jersey as the reigning World Champions in the Time trial, while Croteau also boasts the title of World Cup Champion to her résumé.

“A step towards achieving my goal for the season: the London Games. Following a good training this past winter and a good race here in Italy, I find my progress continues, and I’m glad,” said Marie-Ève Croteau, who is a strong contender for a medal at the upcoming Paralympic Games, this summer. “We should also mention the numerous advices from my coach Eric Van Den Eynde and Sébastien Travers, as well as from my teammates and support staff, either the mechanics or physiotherapists.”

In the women’s C4 race, Marie-Claude Molnar posted a time of 23:25.39 as the lone competitor in her category.

The competition in Rome resumes tomorrow and finish on Sunday, with the road races. For more information on this World Cup event in Rome, please visit www.uci.ch.

RESULTS – 2012 UCI PARA-CYCLING ROAD WORLD CUP (ROME, ITA)

WOMEN TANDEM

1. WELDON, Robbi BESSETTE, Lyne [CANADA] 25’59.72

2. WALSH, Catherine/MEEHAN, Francine [IRELAND] 26’10.32 +10.60

3. HAKKER, Joleen/VAN STEENIS, Samantha [NETHERLANDS] 26’22.87 +23.15

8. OUELLET, Genevieve/ROY, Emilie [CANADA] 27’30.11 +1’30.39

MEN TANDEM

1. CLEMENTE SOLANO, Miguel Angel/MUNOZ SANCHEZ, Diego Javier [SPAIN] 23’15.33

2. VENGE BALBOA, Christian/LLAURADO CALDERO, David [SPAIN] 23’32.48 +17.15

3. KOSIKOWSKI, Krzystof/KORC, Artur [POLAND] 23’34.96 +19.63

4. CHALIFOUR, Daniel/CLOUTIER, Alexandre [CANADA] 23’38.20 +22.87

MEN C1

1. TEUBER, Michael [GERMANY] 21’22.80

2. COLBOURNE, Mark Lee [GREAT BRITAIN] 21’56.19 +33.39

3. MENDEZ FERNANDEZ, Juan Jose [SPAIN] 22’17.92 +55.12

11. MILLEY, Jaye [CANADA] 24’28.11 +3’05.31

12. MCDOUGALL, Brayden [CANADA] 24’46.58 +3’23.78

MEN C2

1. THIRIONNET, Laurent [INDEPENDANT] 20’41.94

2. BATUKOV, Sergey [RUSSIA] 20’43.86 +1.92

3. MACCHI, Fabrizio [ITALY] 20’49.29 +7.35

14. BOLDT, Arnold [CANADA] 21’50.12 +1’08.18

19. PARENT, Matthieu [CANADA] 23’13.62 +2’31.68

WOMEN C4

1. MOLNAR, Marie-Claude [CANADA] 23’25.39

MEN H1

1. ROHAN, Mark [IRELAND] 26’17.89

2. LION, Koby [ISRAEL] 26’19.80 +1.91

3. PASCAL, Patrick [INDEPENDANT] 26’24.39 +6.50

4. LABBE, Robert [CANADA] 26’53.21 +35.32

MEN H2

1. PODESTA, Vittorio [ITALY] 21’12.80

2. BERSET, Jean-Marc [SWITZERLAND] 21’16.75 +3.95

3. ABLINGER, Walter [AUSTRIA] 21’45.81 +33.01

7. MORNEAU, Rico [CANADA] 22’31.73 +1’18.93

13. BEGGS, Mark [CANADA] 23’21.19 +2’08.39

MEN H3

1. WILK, Rafal [POLAND] 20’42.83

2. JEANNOT, Joel [FRANCE] 20’45.15 +2.32

3. MERKLEIN, Vico [GERMANY] 21’19.99 +37.16

8. LEDO, Mark MH3 [CANADA] 22’13.90 +1’31.07