Paris Paralympics 2024: Netherlands, China secure multiple gold medals in para cycling

Wang Xiaomei of China broke the world record twice in women’s C1-C3 3000m individual pursuit at Paris Paralympics 2024.

The Paris Paralympics 2024 Games para-cycling track programme began with four gold medals awarded in the National Velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The Netherlands and China both took two victories. 

The day’s most dominant performance was from Tristan Bangma and pilot Patrick Bos, defending their Paralympic title in the men’s 4000m B individual pursuit. Great Britain’s Stephen Bate and pilot Christopher Latham won silver, with Italy’s Lorenzo Bernard and pilot Davide Plebani taking bronze.

“It’s amazing to defend our title with all our family and friends in the stands,” Bangma said after the race. 

“We have a great partnership and have been riding for so many years together,” Bos added. “When we get on the bike, it’s always beautiful. The pressure was on, but we delivered.”

Earlier in the day in qualifying, Bate – who, with pilot Adam Duggleby, won silver in Tokyo 2020 and gold in Rio 2016, laid down a marker with a new world record of 3:56.435. That didn’t last long, as Bangma and Bos shaved over a second off it with 3’55”396 – more than three seconds faster than the world record they had set at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March this year.

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The Dutch fans had further cause to celebrate as Caroline Groot won gold in the women’s C4-C5 500m time trial. The 26-year-old stormed to victory in 35”566, just outside the new world record she’d set in the morning’s qualifiers (35”390). 

“I am very happy and very happy with my performance,” Groot said. “Winning a gold medal is what counts.” France’s Marie Patouillet sent the home crowd wild with silver (36”700), while Canada’s Kate O’Brien won bronze.

China matched the Netherlands’ double first-day gold as Li Zhangyu won the C1 3000m individual pursuit, beating countryman Liang Weicong in the final to win his fourth Paralympic gold medal and second in the individual pursuit. Zhangyu also broke the world record in morning qualifying, at 3’31”388. Spain’s Ricardo Ten Argiles took bronze.

China enjoyed further success as Wang Xiaomei broke the world record twice in one day on the way to gold in the women’s C1-C3 3000m individual pursuit. Her new world record time of 3’41”692 bettered the 3”44’660 she’d set in the morning. 

Great Britain’s Daphne Schrager also set a new C2 world record (3’45”133) in the morning but would have to settle for C1-C3 silver in the final. Switzerland’s Flurina Rigling won bronze. 

“To win a medal in front of family and friends is an amazing achievement,” Schrager said after the race. “I didn’t have any more to give.”

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