Belgium – Paralympic Games medallist Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., won the gold medal in the season opening road race Sunday on the Para cycling World Cup circuit. Hayward placed first in the men’s 70 kilometre C3 race clocking one hour and 42.02 minutes. Louis Hubert of France was second 22 seconds behind the Canadian and Thomas Peyroton Dartet, also of France, was third.
On Saturday, Hayward also took the bronze in the 29.2 kilometre time trial finishing 30 seconds behind the winner Eduardo Santas Asensio of Spain. Hubert was second. Michael Sametz of Calgary, in his first major race since breaking his hip in training at the Paris Paralympics in September, took eighth spot in the time trial.
Also on the podium was world championship team member Maarten Duif of Carleton Place, Ont., with a silver the men’s 14.6 kilometre H1 (handcycle) time trial. ‘’Second place tasting pretty good in Oostende!,’’ exclaimed Duif on his Instagram account. ‘’Thankful for the support all around me, a year of training paying off!’’