(BEIJING, September 12) -- With two golds, two silvers and a bronze, it was the USA's afternoon at the Cycling Road circuit, but the American team had to wait until late in the day for the medals to start piling up.
Germany was the first to strike gold in the afternoon session with Wolfgang Sacher turning the tables on old rival Wolfgang Eibeck of Austria in the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC1). Eibeck beat Sacher at the 2007 World Championships in Bordeaux, France. Sacher came home 10 seconds ahead of the Austrian Athens 2004 gold medalist and 42 seconds ahead of Athens silver medalist Fabio Triboli of Italy.
In the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC2) event, Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic became the second rider of the day to retain his Athens title, 42 seconds ahead of Athens silver medalist Roberto Alcaide of Spain who came in third behind surprise Silver medal winner on this occasion, Carol Edward Novak of Romania who placed only fifth at the 2007 World Championships.
The third rider to retain his title was Laurent Thirionet of France. Taking gold again in the Men's Individual Time Trial (LC3), Thirionet pushed Britain's Simon Richardson into the silver medal placing by 23 seconds and Fujita Masaki of Japan by 42 seconds. Neither was placed at either the World Championships or at Athens.
Anthony Zahn of the United States finally got the United States onto the afternoon medals board by adding a Men's Individual Time Trial (LC4) bronze to the US trophy cabinet. Michael Teuber of Germany retained his Athens title in the event by a full minute over second-placed Juan Jose Mendez of Spain. Surprisingly, 2007 World Championship gold medalist Paulo Vigano of Italy failed to finish.
Zahn's medal must have inspired his team mates who then began accumulating trophies by bringing home a silver in the very next race, the Women's Individual Time Trial (LC1/LC2/CP4) - a new class for the Paralympics. World Championship 2007 gold medalist Jennifer Schuble of the United States (CP4) who came home a full minute and a half behind the flying Sarah Storey of Great Britain (LC1) the former Paralympic swimmer whose only road cycling success until now was a silver at the 2006 World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland. China at last got on the medals board with a bronze from Zhou Jufang of China (LC1) in the event.
The US team finally won an afternoon gold through Barbara Buchan in the Women's Individual Time Trial (LC3/LC4/CP3), another new Paralympic class. Placed second in the CP3 class at the 2007 World Championships, Buchan went one better today coming home with over two minutes to spare over her team mate Alison Jones in the silver position and three minutes over Paula Tesoriero of New Zealand.
Now there was no stopping the US team with Karissa Whitsell and her pilot Mackenzie Woodring at last having something to celebrate after a day at the road races and four days at the track cycling competition. Whitsell not only took gold but retained her Athens 2004 title in the Women's Individual Time Trial (B&VI 1-3) event, beating the 2007 World Championships gold medalist Iryna Fiadotova of Belarus. Jayne Parsons of New Zealand took third, beating her Antipodean rival and Athens silver medalist Lindy Hou of Australia into fourth.
In the final race of the day, the US momentum seemed to stumble. Christian Venge and his pilot David Llauredo of Spain went one better than the silver they took in Athens finishing 27 seconds ahead of surprise silver and bronze medalists Alfred Stelleman of the Netherlands and Krzysztof Kosikowski of Poland. The Dutch rider's name fails to appear on any medal list outside the Netherlands while his opponent was placed only 14th at the 2007 World Championships. Australian Kieran Modra, bronze medalist at both Athens and Bordeaux could place only fifth.
News Credit: http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn
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