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PARA | Greco & Nicholas defends world titles

31/1/2020

Photo by Casey Gibson

#Milton2020 🌈 Day 1 | Paige Greco and ‪David Nicholas defended their individual pursuit world titles on the opening day of the 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships to be held from 30 January to 2 February.

Paige Greco (SA) staged a sensational comeback inside the final few hundred metres of her C3 3000m final to defend her world title.

The fastest qualifier in the morning session (4:02.474), Greco, 22, found herself down by nearly three seconds at the halfway mark in her final against Clara Brown (USA). The reigning world champion was not fazed by the deficit however as she controlled her to peg back Brown’s lead with five hundred metres remaining.

Greco then powered over the final two laps to win by more than four seconds, with her stunning time of 4mins 0.243secs just two-tenths of a second outside of her own world record set one year ago at the World Championships in Apeldoorn.

"I was happy with the overall result of the day," said Greco. "I worried myself a little in the final when I was down a few seconds but thankfully had it in my legs to bring it home in the last two laps. I’m very happy I was able to defend my title in the individual pursuit."

Photo by Casey Gibson

‪David Nicholas (QLD) claimed a fourth straight individual pursuit rainbow jersey and sixth career track world title after winning the C3 event.

Nicholas (3:29.700) recorded the fastest time of qualifying, just two-tenths of a second ahead of Great Britain’s Jaco Van Gass which set up an exciting clash for gold.

In the 3000m final, Van Gass rocketed to a lead of one second after the first two of twelve laps, before extending his lead to nearly two seconds at the halfway mark.

In a fitting finale to end the opening day’s schedule, Nicholas grabbed the lead on the final lap and showed his class by racing to the gold by half a second (3:28.764).

"I felt good coming into this World Championships. I had no expectations after a minor set back following a crash at the World Cup in Brisbane in December. I felt really relaxed heading to the start line and was happy I performed well," said Nicholas. "It was a tough final to back up against Jaco Van Gass, but I managed to squeeze everything out of myself and luckily get there in the last two laps."

Defending world champion Darren Hicks (SA) was edged off the podium in a scorching C2 3000m pursuit competition which saw the world record smashed in qualifying by eventual gold medallist Ewoud Vromant of Belgium.

As he continues his comeback to racing following an injury which forced him out of the Road Nationals earlier this month, Hicks looked strong as he clocked the third-fastest time (3:39.276) in afternoon qualifying.

In the final against Guihua Liang (CHN), Hicks held the lead at the 2000m mark before Liang took the lead inside the second last lap and the bronze which sent Hicks into fourth overall (3:42.718).

In the time trials, Emily Petricola (VIC) (38.799) finished just two tenths off a second off the podium in fourth in the Women C4 500m Time Trial, while Meg Lemon (SA) was seventh (40.983). Canada’s Kate O’Brien won gold in world record time (35.223).

Alistair Donohoe (VIC) was 15th (1:08.118) in the Men C5 Kilo Time Trial final.

Follow #Milton2020

www.2020uciparatrack.com
Results https://tracktiming.live/eventpage.php?EventId=2003
Live Streaming via uci.org or https://www.flobikes.com/

#AusCyclingTeam

https://www.australiancyclingteam.com/2020paratrackworlds.html
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Australian Team for 2020 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships

Athlete (State) Classification

Gordon Allan (NSW) C2 - 2019 World Championship medalist
Alistair Donohoe (VIC) C5 - 2019 individual pursuit & scratch race world champion
Paige Greco (SA) C3 - 2019 individual pursuit & time trial world champion (dual world record holder)
Darren Hicks (SA) C2 - 2019 individual pursuit world champion
Meg Lemon (SA) C4 - dual 2019 World Championship medalist
David Nicholas (QLD) C3 - 2019 individual pursuit & scratch race world champion
Emily Petricola (VIC) C4 - 2019 individual pursuit world champion (world record holder)
Amanda Reid (NSW) C2 - 2019 time trial world champion (world record holder)

Photo by Casey Gibson

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