New Zealand para-cyclist Rory Mead surged to a podium finish in the opening UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup race in Bruges, Belgium, marking a promising start to the season under a revamped training plan.
Mead, who is based in the United States, finished third in the men’s H2 47km road race, which featured a competitive field including all three medallists from the Paris Paralympics. France’s Florian Jouanny dominated the race from the outset to take gold, followed by Spain’s Sergio Garrote Munoz with silver.
The Kiwi held on with the lead pack and edged out Israel’s Amit Hasdai in a sprint finish to secure third place.
“It came down to the last lap and one of the riders had an incident where his foot came out of the bike and he had to pull off, and it came down to a mad sprint for the finish line,” said Mead. “I gave it everything and came out with third – I am pumped with that.”
Mead credited the result to changes in his training approach.
“After last year we decided to up the volume if we wanted to make the changes that we needed to change. The body feels so much better. Every time I get on the bike now, the arms feel like they know what to do and I feel stronger all round,” he said.
He’s looking to build on the strong start with an eye on the world championships and a long-term goal of a Paralympic podium in Los Angeles.
“We have got three years to LA and I really think we can squish that gap and come out with a podium there.”
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi Nicole Murray is set to close out New Zealand’s campaign in Bruges tomorrow in the women’s C5 road race over 58 kilometres.
Men’s H2 Road Race Results (46.6km)
- Florian Jouanny (FRA) – 1:11.18
- Sergio Garrote Munoz (ESP) – 1:14.23
- Rory Mead (NZL) – 1:15.04
- Amit Hasdai (ISR) – same time