Photos in collage courtesy of Jean Knop, Martine Verfaillie, Francisco Bandin, and EUC, and report taken from the RTE website, with thanks to you all
RTE told his social media: Ireland’s success in the para-cycling scene continued as the squad secured two gold medals on the third day of the European Paracycling Championships in upper Austria.
Paralympic champion Katie-George Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly proved fastest in the tandem time trial while Ronan Grimes claimed his first international victory by winning the MC4 time trial.
Dunlevy and Kelly, a relatively new pairing, continued their winning streak from the World Cup to claim a third consecutive win. The duo completed the course in 32 minutes 9.46 seconds, 32 seconds quicker than British riders Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl. Belgian rider Anneleen Monsieur finished in third place.
Dunlevy said: “Absolutely delighted with that and the European Championship jersey is something we really wanted coming here. “It was a challenging course; it was a different course to last week in Germany and just thrilled with that.” Grimes was on top form in the time trial beating runner-up Louis Clinke by 16 seconds to claim his first international win. French rider Mickael Carlier took the bronze medal. “I’m delighted to take my first top step on the podium at an international race,” said Grimes.
“It’s an amazing feeling and for it to be a European Championships and the jersey you get from that is an added bonus really.” Other riders in action included Damien Vereker, who secured his best-ever finish at the international level with the new pilot Dillon Corkery.
Richael Timothy finished in fourth place in the WC3 category and Chris Burns placed seventh in the MC2 time trial. Declan Slevin was in action on Thursday finishing in ninth place.