Para-Cycling Road World Championships Start Thursday

Beginning Thursday (8 September), 358 athletes from 46 different countries will be in Roskilde, Denmark, to compete in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-Cycling Road World Championships, earning qualification points for London 2012.

The competition, which will run through to 11 September, will be the last major road event before London 2012, and both the individual time trial and road race disciplines will be full of several familiar faces.

Great Britain, the host nation of next summer’s Games, will be represented by five-time Paralympian Sarah Storey, up-and-coming star Mark Colbourne and one of the world’s fastest Para-Cyclists, Jody Cundy.

Jiri Jezek, a nine-time Paralympic Games medallist from the Czech Republic, will be aiming for a clean sweep in 2011, having already won the UCI Para-Cycling Track world title in March and finishing atop the standings in this year’s UCI World Cup.

Michael Teuber, a three-time Paralympic Games gold medallist, will be the veteran face for Germany in Roskilde, while Italy’s Fabrizio Macchi, who has already qualified for London 2012, will anchor a strong Italian squad on the road that will also include Paulo Vigano, Andrea Tarlao, Ivano Pizzi and Luca Pizzi.

The USA will also send a strong delegation, including two-sport phenomenon (Para-Cycling and Alpine Skiing) Allison Jones and three-time world champion Oscar Sanchez.