The Para-cycling World Championships get underway on Thursday in Ronse, East Flanders, with four days of racing across time trial, road race and relay events. It is the first time Belgium hosts the event, which brings together para-cyclists from 54 countries.
The competition opens with individual time trials on Thursday and Friday. The course in Ronse is relatively flat, with around 70 metres of climbing per lap, favouring time trial specialists. Climbing specialists will be focusing on the road races over the weekend, held on a tougher circuit with several hills. The competition concludes with the team relay on Sunday evening.
Belgium fields a squad of eleven riders, including men and women competing across handbike, tricycle and cycle classes. They are set to compete across all categories, from the MH3 handbike class to the women’s WH3 races.
“A world championship on Belgian soil gives an extra boost”
National coach Remko Meeusen believes the home crowd could inspire his team. “A world championship on Belgian soil gives an extra boost. We have a mix of experienced medal contenders and promising debutants. If everything falls into place, we can come away with several rainbow jerseys,” he said.
The MC2 time trial on Friday will be one of the most promising races for Belgian fans, when reigning champion Ewoud Vromant defends his title. The 41-year-old from East Flanders faces stiff competition from France’s Alexandre Léauté, who denied him Paralympic gold in Paris earlier this summer.
But Vromant remains realistic about his chances to become world champion once again. “I’ve managed to win this title twice, but at all the other World Championships it didn’t work out. So it’s not a given that I’ll extend my title,” Vromant said ahead of the event. “I’m aiming for a podium place – that’s the goal.”
While Ronse hosted road cycling world championships in 1963 and 1988, it is the first time a para-cycling world championship is organised in Belgium. The world championships for able-bodied cyclists take place in Rwanda in September, a first for the African continent.
#FlandersNewsService | Ewoud Vromant. © BELGA PHOTO LUC CLAESSEN
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