Five gold to Australia on opening day of Para-cycling road worlds

The Australian anthem rang out five times in Ammen, Netherlands as Darren Hicks, Emily Petricola, Paige Greco, Alistair Donohoe, and David Nicholas all picked up gold on the opening day of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.

David Nicholas in the C3 ITT at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championshps (Casey Gibson) Source: Casey Gibson

Emily Petricola (C4) covered the technical 21km course in a time of 30mins 55.57 seconds, 32 seconds ahead of Shawn Morelli (USA). Petricola's compatriot Meg Lemon (32:23:64) also got on the podium for bronze.  

“I was honestly ecstatic to win! I've had a pretty tough prep with a lot of disruption and I knew it would take a really good performance to win today. I'm glad that despite everything going on in the lead-up, I could get the result for the coaches and our team.”

“The course was a bit deceptive (even if it was) flat it was pretty windy out there. It all went by pretty fast, although it doesn't feel like that when you are doing it!”

Emily Petricola Source: Casey Gibson

Alistair Donohoe (C5) sped home to his first time trial world title, dashing the hopes of Dutch cyclist Daniel Abraham by just two seconds. Donohoe averaged 47km/hour across the 32km course clocking 39mins 22:52secs.

“I can’t quite believe it just yet, it’s pretty surreal to me. I’ve been chasing the time trial gold for a few years now and to snatch it by 1.7 seconds is just amazing.

This win is the Victorian's third rainbow jersey of 2019 after winning two C5 world titles in the individual pursuit and scratch race at the 2019 Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, in March.

"Must be something in the Dutch water?”

While ecstatic with the win against the clock, Donohoe's main game is defending his road race world rainbows.

Alistair Donohoe Source: Casey Gibson

Darren Hicks (C2) scorched his time trial in 28mins 24.55 seconds, 22 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Ewoud Vromant. 

This rainbow jersey comes after he won his first track title in the individual pursuit in March.

Darren Hicks Source: Casey Gibson

“The Road Time Trial has been the title I've been chasing for three years. My classification is always one of the biggest and closest, so to finally get the win, and do it by 22 seconds, is just unreal!”

“We knew it would all come down to hitting my projected power and speed numbers which were daunting since they were both higher than I'd ever ridden before! That's what I love about racing though, pushing yourself further than you ever felt you could, and in my opinion, that's what it should take to win a World Championship!” 

Paige Greco picked up her gold in the C3 ITT and David Nicholas in the men's C3. Kaitlyn Schurmann grabbed bronze in the C1.

For a full wrap and results, visit the Australian Cycling Team website.