From ushandcycling.org
used with permission.
U.S. Athletes Grab Four World Titles in Denmark
Friday, 09 September 2011 17:01
 Photo: Monica Bascio in Thursay’s Time Trial |
Monica Bascio (WH3, Evergreen, CO), Cassie Mitchell (WH1, Atlanta, GA), and Oz Sanchez (MH4, San Diego, CA) were crowned World Champions yesterday at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Roskilde, Denmark. Muffy Davis (Salt Lake City, UT) won the only other handcyclnig medal for Team USA with a silver in the women’s H2 event.
Sanchez asserted his dominance in the Time Trial discipline with his 4th consecutive win on the international stage following TT victories at the Paralympic Games in Beijing, China and the 2009 & 2010 World Championships in Bogogno, Italy and Baie Comeau, Canada respectively. Sanchez’ time of 23:34 was 00:26 faster than Alessandro Zanardi of Italy and it was another 00:15 back to 3rd-placed, Norbert Mosandl of Germany.
Monica Bascio has been stellar in her return to handcycle racing after a 5 year hiatus from the sport. She won the 2011 overall UCI World Cup title and now, her second World Championship. It’s been nine years since she won the Time Trial at the 2002 World Championships in Altenstadt, Germany. “Back then, it was IPC, not UCI, so I am super happy to have earned the full UCI rainbow jersey with five stripes…the one I got in 2002 only had 3 stripes.” Bascio finished in a time of 28:26, 36 seconds in front of silver medalist, Sandra Graf of Switzerland. Susan Reid of New Zealand finished 3rd in a time of 31:33.
Newcomer, Cassie Mitchell won the first-ever women’s H1 World Title in a time of 39:21, besting Karen March of Canada by more than 10 minutes. Mitchell is helping the UCI break new ground by participating in a new category recognized for the first time in 2011.
The U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team won eight TT medals in total. Allison Jones (C2, Colorado Springs, CO) won yet another TT World title, Greta Neimanas (C5, Colorado Springs, CO) took home the bronze, Meg Fisher (C4, Bozeman, MT) won the silver, and the tandem team of Clark Rachfal and Dave Swanson won bronze in their time trial on Friday. Some of the U.S. athletes are seeking redemption in Saturday’s road race, including Dane Pilon — who dropped a chain and finished 4th in the men’s H4 race — Sam Kavanaugh — who flatted in the Men’s C5 race — and Jonathon Copsey — who went down in a gravel-filled corner in the men’s C5 race.
Full results from the TT can be found HERE.
Stay tuned to ushf.org for more results from Denmark as the road race kicks off on Saturday.