Top 50 Moments of 2017: No. 35 – Lauro Chaman’s sensational speed

Brazilian cyclist leads from the start to wins men’s road race C5 at Worlds 27 Nov 2017

a male Para cyclist raises his arms in celebration as he crosses the finish line

ⒸAndrew McFadden

By IPC

Lauro Cesar Chaman created a sensation in the men´s road race C5 at the UCI Para Cycling Road World Championships in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on 3 September, to claim his first World title.

His big performance in Pietermaritzburg enters at No.35 in the International Paralympic Committee's (IPC) Top 50 Moments of 2017.

The Brazilian delivered arguably the best performance of the year. Part of an early 2-man breakaway, he soon found himself alone in front and completed what amounted to an 8-lap time trial.

He finished with mammoth 2 minutes 12 seconds ahead of Austrian Wolfgang Eibec, who could do nothing against the inspired 30-year-old. Chaman continues to improve and showing great form in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

France’s Dorian Foulon ended 29 seconds further back to finish third.

“I was very motivated and I have been training hard in Brazil. This is a dream come true and I want to thank the whole Brazilian staff and team. We are like a family,” said Chaman.

“I will forever remember this title. Every athlete dreams of becoming World champion one day, and this time it was my day. It was a tough race and I am very happy.”

Last March, Chaman had claimed a silver and two bronze at the Track World Championships in Los Angeles, USA.

In 2016, Chaman made history by becoming the first Brazilian to ever reach the podium at a Paralympic Games, when he took silver in the road race C4-5 and bronze in the time trial C5 on home soil in Rio.

“Some time has passed already, but me and the rest of the Para athletes are still thinking about Rio 2016. I want to do a better preparation for Tokyo 2020 and, who knows, get the gold medal,” he said.

“And I also want to win medals at the Lima 2019 Parapan American Games.”

German cyclists topped the medals table in Pietermaritzburg with 20 medals (10 gold) followed by Italy (14 medals, seven gold) and the Netherlands (15 medals, six gold).

The full rundown of the Top 50 Moments will continue until 31 December.