DOMINIQUE MAINGUY WINS FIRST PARA-CYCLING WORLD CUP RACE
Another successful day for Canada in at World Cup finals in Baie-Comeau
(Baie-Comeau, QC – July 7, 2012) The Road races were featured on Day two at the 2012 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals in Baie-Comeau, and Dominique Mainguy came away with her first gold medal in her first World Cup appearance.
Dominique Mainguy of Quebec, QC, who is attending her career first World Cup, took the victory in the 25.9 kilometer road race. World Cup leader Marie-Ève Croteau did not finish as she crashed during the race. After the race, Croteau was rewarded for her season-long continuing success with the official World Cup Jersey and trophy, winning the overall standings.
“I feel really good. I was not expecting that at all. To see all people applaud me, it warms my heart. I put a lot of effort in the race, and I’m glad to be rewarded. It’s really fun [being at a World Cup]. I really like it. This is my first World Cup, but it’s also my career second paracycling competition. The experience I acquired here is really good,” said Mainguy after receiving the gold medal. “I would love to do some more race, perform and succeed, always to improve myself. It would be really cool. And I know to do so, I’ll have to work really hard.”
In the H3 race, the reigning Canadian Champion Mark Ledo took the second place. Ledo took the early lead in the race, along with Rafal Wilk of Poland. Soon after, Wilk suffered from a puncture, and Ledo broke away in a solo lead. After gaining a large lead, Wilk bridged back with Ledo in the last lap, and dropped him with 1 kilometer left in the race. Ledo will finish just over 20 seconds behind Wilk, the new World Cup leader.
“I felt pretty good going into the road race today. I managed to break away and open up two minutes on the field after the other riders had some bad luck or blew up. I was alone out there for six laps until the chasers reeled me in with half a lap remaining. I am super happy with my performance overall and am looking forward to competing in London later this year,” said Ledo.
Shelly Gauthier also received the World Cup winner’s trophy.
In afternoon races, Robert Labbé finished first in the category H1, winning his second strait World Cup win. Labbé won the World Cup title and the overall ranking, and grabbed the trophy as well as the prestigious white jersey.
Myriam Adam took the second place in the women’s H2. In the men’s H2 race, Mark Beggs finished in second place behind the powerful Austrian Walter Ablinger. Charles Moreau surprised everyone today, winning the bronze medal and stepping for the first time on a World Cup podium. Rico Morneau did not finish.
Tomorrow, the Cycle and Tandem categories will be featured as the paracyclists hit the streets of Baie-Comeau, and tackle the challenging course that features the massive “Côte St-George”. The event will end with the Team Relay race.
The race in Baie-Comeau is organized by Paramanic International, the same organizing committee who organized the 2010 Para-cycling Road World Championships and the 2011 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup Finals.
RESULTS – ROAD RACES – 2012 UCI WORLD CUP FINALS – BAIE-COMEAU, QC
Tricycle, Women
1. GAUTIER, Shelley WT1 CANADA 1:17:50
1. MAINGUY, Dominique WT2 CANADA 1:10:47
DNF. CROTEAU, Marie-Eve WT2 CANADA
Handcycle, Women
1. DAVIS, Marianna WH2 USA 1:48:09
2. ADAM, Myriam WH2 INDEPENDANT [2 LAP]
Handcycle, Men
1. LABBE, Robert MH1 CANADA 1:50:06
DSQ. PEDERFERRI, Anthony MH1 USA
1. ABLINGER, Walter MH2 AUSTRIA 1:39:12
2. BEGGS, Mark MH2 CANADA +4:49
3. MOREAU, Charles MH2 INDEPENDANT +6:23
1. WILK, Rafal MH3 POLAND 1:50:08
2. LEDO, Mark MH3 CANADA +0:23
3. HARRINGTON, Simon MH3 INDEPENDANT [2 lap]
