Canada takes three Para cycling medals at road world championships

Canadian Para cyclists took three medals at the road world championships in Huntsville, Alabama, the first worlds in more than a decade without Sébastien Travers as the Canadian team coach. Michael Sametz of Calgary and Alexandre Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., took silver and bronze in the men's C3 time trial, and Maarten Duif of Carleton Place, Ont., added silver in the men's H1 road race.

Travers, who helped guide Canada to 16 medals over the past three Paralympic Games, was promoted earlier this summer by Cycling Canada as Chief of High Performance, a role that encompasses all cycling disciplines including Para. Michael van den Ham, the Para cycling Development Lead for Cycling Canada, was the official team coach at worlds, though Travers was on hand as team manager.

In the men's C3 time trial over 29.2 kilometres, Louis Hubert of France won gold in 36 minutes and 03.41 seconds. Sametz took silver 29.89 seconds behind Hubert, and Hayward, the defending champion, was third 59.77 seconds back.

I felt very fast on the first lap. It seemed like everything was lining up, and then on the second lap I almost fell off halfway through, but I hung on and kept my head tucked to hold the speed as much as possible.Michael Sametz

That near fall must have brought back painful memories for Sametz. On the eve of the 2024 Paralympic Games, he crashed in training and broke his hip, which required emergency surgery and denied him an opportunity to race in Paris. The climb back to the elite level was very tough for the 30-year-old.

It was a hot race, but I'm very happy with the result after the last couple of years.Michael Sametz

Hayward went in as the defending champion but sharing the podium with his teammate made it a satisfying day. "I'm really happy with third place," said Hayward, a Paralympic medallist on the track in 2024. "And if you're going to finish third, you want to see athletes ahead of you who you know earned it, and that's exactly what happened."

Standing on the podium with another Canadian is incredibly special, and it's something I'm proud of.Alexandre Hayward

In the men's H1 road race over 55.2 kilometres, Fabrizio Cornegliani of Italy was the winner in just under two hours, with Duif second and Patrick Jahoda of Czechia third. It was Duif's first career world championship medal.

I didn't think I had it in the start and then it all just came together in that first lap. There were very good competitors out here and I tried to make the most it. I set ambitious goals for this, and it's such a reality shock to come out with silver. It hasn't hit yet but it's coming.Maarten Duif

In the men's C3 69 kilometre road race, Hayward and Eduardo Santas Asensio were both nine seconds behind the winner, but the Spaniard got the bronze in the photo finish and Hayward was fourth. Thomas Peyroton Dartet of France was first in one hour and 36 minutes and 43 seconds, and Juan Alberto Jimenez Gutierrez of Spain second four seconds back. Sametz was seventh.

Duif was also fifth in his time trial, Mel Pemble of Victoria was 10th in both women's C3 races, Jessica Law of Vancouver was 11th in the women's C5 road race and 13th in the time trial, and John Sonnenschein of Vancouver was 17th in the men's C4 time trial in his worlds debut.