Dutch cyclists stand out at year’s first Road World Cup

Belgian city of Ostend sees Paralympic champions take centre stage 07 May 2018
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three male Para cyclists on the podium

Jetze Plat swept the men's H4 events to lead the Dutch success in Ostend

ⒸSaen Sunderland
By UCI and IPC

Dutch cyclists shone in the first 2018 UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, from 3-6 May, as they claimed seven gold medals to finish top of the standings.

Rio 2016 triathlon champion and cycling bronze medallist Jetze Plat swept the men’s H4 events as he won both the time trial and road race. Tim de Vries had a fantastic performance as well as he finished first in the men’s time trial H5 ahead of Italy’s former Formula 1 racer and Paralympic champion Alex Zanardi.

The Netherlands’ other three winners were Martin Van de Pol (men’s road race C5), Carmen Koedood (women’s time trial and road race H2) and Laura de Vaan (women’s time trial H5).

Darren Hicks celebrated double success in the men’s time trial and road race C2, giving Australia two of their six gold medals.

US cyclists won more medals than any other country, with a total of 20 including five golds, nine silvers and six bronze.

William Groulx delivered one of the standout performances after securing double victory in the men’s road race and time trial H2 and therefore giving two golds to the USA, even beating Italy’s three-time Paralympic champion Luca Mazzone.

Italian cyclists also had four excellent days of competition as they claimed 18 medals overall.

Fresh from winning two biathlon golds at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, Germany’s Andrea Eskau switched to cycling and won the women’s road race H5 in Ostend.

Brazil’s Rio 2016 silver medallist Lauro Cesar Chaman, who won a track World title in March, also emerged victorious on the road as he took gold in the men’s time trial C5.

The second World Cup will take place in Emmen, the Netherlands, from 6-8 July, while Baie-Comeau will stage the last between 15 and 19 August.

Full results are available on UCI’s website.