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Paris 2024: Time trial gold for Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly

Updated / Wednesday, 4 Sep 2024 19:04
Katie-George Dunlevy (R) and pilot Linda Kelly had 83 seconds to spare after 28.3km
Katie-George Dunlevy (R) and pilot Linda Kelly had 83 seconds to spare after 28.3km

Ireland's Katie-George Dunlevy and her pilot Linda Kelly have won the gold medal in the women's B time trial at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

It's Dunlevy's seventh Paralympic medal of a glittering career, taking her overall tally to four golds along with three silver medals.

With a new pilot in Kelly, Dunlevy showed no nerves or hesitations as the duo got off to a strong start and were the second fastest team through the first stage.

Hitting the front by the midway point, Dunlevy and Kelly only stretched that lead as the race progressed and they eventually crossed the line in a time of 38:16.58 for the gold.

Such was the dominance of the Dunlevy and Kelly, that they finished almost a minute and a half clear of their closest competitors.

Great Britain's Sophie Unwin took the silver medal in a time of 39:40.18, with the bronze going to her compatriot Lora Fachie (40:41.30).

It was a Paralympic three-in-a row for Dunlevy, who retained the time trial title she won with Eve McCrystal in Rio and Tokyo.

"It was a really, really challenging course," Dunlevy told RTÉ Sport. "Really technical. I thought we were going to come off a few times but that's racing for you. You’re on the limit.

"When we heard we were down on the first lap I just thought 'keep going, just keep going'. I’ve been in many races where it’s not over ‘til you cross that line so you’ve just got to keep going and just hope the other bikes maybe fade.

"Linda came on board last year and she's done so well with pressure on her today to deliver but I believed in her, believed in every pedal stroke.

"She had a lot of challenges this year, we both did, so for us to come away with the win, I'm very emotional and I can’t quite believe it."

Ireland's Josephine Healion and Eve McCrystal, who won track silver with Dunlevy on Monday - finished in fifth place.

Their time of 41:57.61 was 3:41.03 behind the winners.

"I couldn't have done anymore," said Healion. "It was really tough, a really hard course. It was hot but we got through it and I’m happy with that. The girls won, (Katie and Linda) huge congratulations to them."

McCrystal added: "I’m wrecked. It was a really tough course, I enjoyed it, it was hot it was tough. Her first Paralympics Games (Healion), I’m very proud of this one and she’s just a star and she will only continue to grow. Huge congratulations to Katie and Linda on their race too."

Damien Vereker (R) and pilot Mitchell McLaughlin after their race

Waterford cyclist Damien Vereker was seventh in the men's B time trial alongside pilot Mitchell McLaughlin.

The pair finished ninth at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and improved on that showing in Paris today.

It was a solid and steady performance from the pair, who were seventh after the first check point and remained there throughout until the finish.

Their time of 36:31.09 was +2:20.07 behind race winners Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos of the Netherlands. Silver went to Elie de Carvalho and Mickael Guichard of France, with Vincent Schure and Timo Franse, also of the Netherlands, taking bronze.

"It was really hot," said Vereker. "We didn't want to give everything on the first hill, we wanted to reserve something for the second lap."

Mitchell said: "The road race on Friday is our main event so it was good to get out today and get a look at the course."

Ronan Grimes was eighth in the men's C4 individual time trial in a time of 39:01.83.

The 35-year-old Galway man completed the first half of the course sixth fastest before slipping back slightly among the 13 competitors.

It was a French 1-2 at the finish, Kevin le Cunff (36:46.19) leading home Gatien le Rousseau (37:18.38). Spain's Damian Ramos Sanchez was third in 38:05.94.

Grimes will be back in action in the C4-C5 road race on Friday. He was world champion in the C4 road race in 2022 and silver medallist in 2023.

"During the race, I thought I could be on for a good result but then when I got over the finish line and saw, I thought I was just not at the races, really," he said.

"I don't know why, I was pushing hard. It's really hard to know where you are when on the course. I caught the person who went out a minute before me so I thought I was doing well.

"I pushed hard on the climbs. I thought I was going well but maybe the others were just better. I'm disappointed with the result but my form has been good and I was confident going into this race but it just didn't happen for me. Overall, the experience (at the Paralympics) has been great."

Richael Timothy

Ireland's Richael Timothy finished 12th in the women's C1-3 individual time trial.

Coming through the first 5.8k marker in 13th place, Timothy increased her pace towards the end of the 14.1k course and crossed the finish line in a time of 24:32.40, overtaking Australia's Amanda Reid to take 12th place.

Germany's Maike Hausberger won the gold medal in 21:30.45 with Great Britain's Frances Brown claiming silver as she finished +15.73 behind. The bronze went to Anna Beck of Sweden.

Timothy was happy with her performance, using it as an opportunity to familiarise herself with the course ahead of Saturday's road race.

"It's a tough course, it's technical enough," she said. "There are two drags in the course and then some uphill.

"I caught the two people in front of me, they are in different categories than me, so it was hard to know where you were.

"Road race is my main event, so I was just happy to get out there and get a run at the course."

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