Durst earns time trial victory as UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup season begins in Ostend
By Michael Pavitt
Germany's Hans-Peter Durst triumphed on the opening day of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Para-cycling Road World Cup season in Ostend.
The 60-year-old produced a strong performance in the men's T2 time trial event in the Belgian city.
He completed the 18 kilometre course in a time of 31min and 17.33sec to finish on top of the podium.
United States' Ryan Boyle and Britain's Craig Collis-McCann rounded off the podium positions, after they finished 40 seconds and 1min 57sec off the pace of the winner.
Victory in the T1 classification was claimed by the Czech Republic's Jiri Hindr, who finished the event in a time of 39:44.08.
Italy's Leonardo Melle proved his closest challenger, with the 47-year-old ending his effort 37 seconds down on Hindr.
The top three was rounded off by his compatriot Giorgio Farroni, who was 1:38 down on the winner's time.
Australia's Carol Cooke emerged as the winner of the women's T2 time trial, with the Australian achieving a time of 35:20.42.
She was followed by Jill Walsh, with the American ending 40 seconds down on Cooke's time at the finish.
Congrats @ferrarifreek44! Silver in the Men's T2 Time Trial at UCI Para-cycling World Cup 1! @usparalympics @UCI_paracycling pic.twitter.com/YWKfxS4tqu
— USParacycling (@usparacycling) May 3, 2018
Monica Sereda secured another medal for the US, after she claimed bronze by ending 2:09 down on Cooke.
Dutch rider Carmen Koedood was the sole competitor in the women's H2 class, with the 27-year-old managing to finish in 47:29.98.
Canada's Shelley Gautier ended in a time of 42:59.35 in the women's T1 event.
Time trials will continue tomorrow.
Road races are then scheduled to be held on Saturday and Sunday (May 5 and May 6).
The World Cup event will draw to a close with the team relay competition.
May 2018: Ostend to hold first event of UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup season
March 2018: British pair break second world record on final day of Para Cycling World Championships
March 2018: British duo break world record to clinch tandem gold at Para Cycling Track World Championships
March 2018: Li breaks world record to clinch time trial title at Para Cycling Track World Championships
March 2018: Toft and Cundy golden as Britain earn five medals on first day of Para Cycling World Championships in Rio
Michael Pavitt Senior reporter
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Since joining insidethegames.biz in 2015, Michael Pavitt has covered a variety of international multi-sport events, including the Baku 2015 European Games, the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, Sapporo 2017 Asian Winter Games and Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade. He also reported on the UCI Presidential election in Bergen in 2017, as well as attending the IOC Session in Lima and three ANOC General Assemblies.
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