Paris 2024: Best Para cycling moments
Jetze Plat won two Para cycling road gold medals to add to a Paralympic triathlon title The women's T1-2 road race came down to a dramatic final sprint, with Emma Lund clinching the gold Marie Patouillet delighted local fans with gold in the women's C5 3000m individual pursuit 10 Sep 2024
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games were packed with memorable moments, including athletic feats and historic firsts, that took place at stunning venues in front of a vocal crowd.
We will share three moments from each sport that made the Games very special.
Top moment
Dutchman Jetze Plat picked up double gold in Para road cycling races to add to his Para triathlon gold from earlier in the week.
He sealed the hat trick in the men’s H4 road race final in Clichy-sous-Bois on Thursday.
His nearest opponent, Thomas Fruehwirth, heaped praise on Plat after settling for silver.
"Look at him, he's a master, a machine,” Fruehwirth said.
Instead of relaxing and taking it easy, the Dutch overachiever went on to compete in Sunday’s marathon, where he placed ninth and clocked a season best time.
Biggest surprise
Denmark’s Emma Lund won gold in the women's T1-2 road race in a dramatic final sprint at Clichy-sous-Bois.
The stellar performance came during her Paralympic debut in Paris.
Lund, 27, upstaged Swiss rival Celine Van Till.
"I was competing with Celine Van Till for the gold. I have only beaten her once before this, at the (2023) world championships, so I pick the good competitions to beat her (laughs)," Lund joked.
Van Till, who competed in Paralympic equestrian at the Rio Games before switching to cycling, had some frustrating equipment malfunctions during the road race.
"In the beginning of the first hill of the second lap, my camelback broke down. I couldn't have any more water afterwards. I didn't have any more water, so I couldn't work out my plan and do some attacks I wanted to,” she said.
Home hero
France’s Marie Patouillet, 36, delighted local fans by winning the women's C5 3000m individual pursuit in an all-French final.
The National Velodrome’s roof was close to exploding with jubilation as Patouillet beat compatriot Heidi Gaugain.
“In my head, I told myself I was the favourite. I told myself, 'Do what you can do, no regrets, it's your last laps of the course, push, push, push'. And that's what I did,” she told reporters.
Between the heat of the velodrome and pure exhaustion, Patouillet almost fainted during the medal presentation but fortunately, Gaugain and bronze medalist Nicole Murray from New Zealand held her up in a show of great sportsmanship.
Earlier, on the first day of competition, Patouillet secured a silver in the women's C4-5 500m time trial, the first medal event of the entire Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The French Olympic torchbearer plans to hang up her bicycle helmet after the Games and focus on her work as a doctor.
“I've had an unbelievable Games; it has been magical. I'm extremely lucky to choose to stop now, with this result," she said.
She will also continue to campaign against discrimination faced by the LGBT community.
