Para cycling circuit moves to Netherlands

More than 300 cyclists from 36 countries are in the Netherlands ready to take part in the year’s second UCI Para Cycling Road World Cup in the municipality of Emmen between 6 and 8 July.

Men’s and women’s time trials and road races will be contested across 13 categories. One mixed team relay event will also take place.

Two-time Paralympic champion Shawn Morelli (women’s C4) will lead USA’s 30-strong delegation which also includes Rio 2016 gold medallists William Groulx (men’s H2) and Jamie Whitmore (men’s C3).

After a standout performance at the first Road World Cup in Ostend, Belgium, where they finished top of the medals table with seven golds, Dutch cyclists seek to continue their winning-ways on home soil.

Netherlands will be confident of adding golds through Paralympic champions Daniel Abraham Gebru (men’s C5), Tristan Bangma (men’s B), Vincent Ter Schure and pilot Timo Fransen (men’s B).

Australian three-time Paralympic champion Carol Cooke (women’s T2) will be another of the big names competing.

Others to look-out-for are Germany’s Andrea Eskau (women's H5), Ireland’s Colin Lynch (men’s C2), Peru’s Israel Hilario Rimas (men’s C2), Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Chaman, Colombia’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist Nestor Ayala Ayala (men’s T2) and Italy’s Paralympic champion Vittorio Podesta (men’s H3).

The competition is the last event before the 2018 UCI Road Cycling World Championships, which take place from 2-5 August in Maniago, Italy.

A full schedule and results are available on UCI’s website.