Cerebral Palsy Sport Ireland

Athlone athlete Mark Rohan secured Ireland’s first ever Paracycling World Championship Gold Medal when winning the H1 Handcycling Road Race in Baie-Comeau Canada today.

Riding a very tactical race Mark pulled away from the rest of the field in the first lap with the previous World Champion Austrian rider Wolfgang Schattauer.  In the second lap they were joined by the Israeli rider Yakof Lion and it was clear that these three would share out the medals.

On the final climb Mark and Wolfgang increased the pressure to drop the Israeli rider and leave it a two cat race for the gold medal.  With just 500 metres to go Mark attacked from behind to overtake Schattauer and held him off in a thrilling finish to win by just two seconds and take the Gold for Ireland.

Expressing delight at the result Irish Paracycling Manager said he was so proud of Mark on his great performance and paid tribute to his coaches Beverly Chamberlain and Brian Nugent and the other support staff members mechanic Gerry Beggs and Masseuse  Fionnuala Kirby for the part they played in Marks great win.

“Singing the Irish National Anthem at a World Championship Medal Ceremony was a great experience and hopefully one we will repeat again before the championships are over” said Toomey.

The two other Irish athletes in action today, Karol Doherty in the H3 category and Colin Lynch in the C2 category both finished down the field in their races.

Four bikes are in action tomorrow, male tandem pairings of Michael Delaney and pilot Con Collis and Andrew Fitzgerald and pilot Paul Giblin, female tandem pairing of Catherine Walsh and pilot Fran Meehan, and two single bikes Cathal Miller in the C5 category and Enda Smyth in the C4 category.  Fingers crossed that Mark’s win will encourage them all to follow suit and bring home the goods in their road races tomorrow

Info Source - Denis Toomey - Paralympic Cycling Manager