New Zealand name team for UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships

"We are sending a small but extremely competitive team. The team is headed up by defending time trial world champion Tim Williams (H1 men) and 2014 time trial silver medallists Emma Foy and Laura Thompson (women's tandem)."

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has named its team to complete at the 2015 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Nottwil, Switzerland, from 28 August – 2 September.

The five-strong team is the first New Zealand para-cycling team to compete at a World Championships across each of the four cycling divisions - tricycle (T), handcycle (H), standard bike (C), and tandem bike (B).

The team will first contest the third round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Elzach, Germany, prior to heading to Nottwil.

Jono Hailstone, Head Performance Coach, Para-Cycling, said: "We are sending a small but extremely competitive team. The team is headed up by defending time trial world champion Tim Williams (H1 men) and 2014 time trial silver medallists Emma Foy and Laura Thompson (women's tandem).

“Two new additions to the team include Fraser Sharp (C3 men), who recently finished fith at the opening round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Maniago, Italy, and was within 30 seconds of finishing on the podium. Fraser is joined by Stephen Hills, who is new to competing in the T2 men's class. Stephen showed significant improvement in a very short space of time, going from 11th in the time trial in the opening round of the World Cup in Maniago, to sixth in both the time trial and road race in Yverdon-les-Bains.

“We believe Stephen has the potential to continue to improve rapidly and make further gains leading into the World Championships in six weeks’ time. The event will also provide vital racing experience for Stephen, who has very limited opportunities to race in an international men's trike field. This racing experience will play a pivotal role in Stephen’s development as a trike rider, and his progress towards the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The goals for this team are very clear: we're going to the World Championships to win medals. For the road-only athletes, this is their last pinnacle event before the Rio 2016 Paralympics, so is an important opportunity for them to put their case forward for Rio selection."