South Africa claim two golds on opening day of home Para-Cycling Road World Cup

South Africa secured two golds on the opening day of the final World Cup of the season ©UCI

South African riders began the final Para-cycling Road World Cup event of the season in style in front of a home crowd in Pietermaritzburg, securing two gold and two bronze medals in time trial events.

Justine Asher was the first to secure gold for the hosts, winning the women’s H2 event, completing the eight kilometres course in the Midmar Dam complex in 24min 28sec, while The Netherlands’ Carmen Koedood came home second, more than four minutes behind.

Asher’s triumph was quickly followed by Pieter du Preez in the men’s H1 race as he ended over five minutes clear of nearest rival, the Czech Republic's Patrik Jahoda, crossing the line in 20:57.

The remaining South African medals were sealed by Ernst Van Dyk and Goldy Fuchs in the men’s H5 and T2 events but the pair finished some way behind the respective winners.

Dutch cyclist Tim De Vries claimed the H5 gold, seeing off the challenge of America’s Oscar Sanchez in 26:25, while Germany’s Hans-Peter Durst was the victor in the T2 class, crossing the line in 28:33, with United States' Ryan Boyle finishing 40 seconds down.

Durst’s win was one of several for the German team on the opening day of racing as Michael Teuber earned gold in the C1 event in 25:06.

Dorothee Vieth and Christiane Reppe, meanwhile, claimed victories in the women’s H5 and H4 races, crossing the line in times of 28:56 and 32:06 respectively.

Britain secured both golds in the tandem time trials ©Twitter/UCI Para-cycling

The American team also enjoyed success in the time trial events with Allison Jones and Jamie Whitmore Cardenas winning the C2 and C3 events in 29:10 and 26:19.

Alicia Dana added to the gold rush by winning the H3 class in 33:15 with Britain’s Karen Drake earning silver in 35:17.

Shawn Morelli was another American to top the podium, winning the women’s C4 race in 25:44, coming home a minute clear of Australia’s Susan Powell.

William Groulx won the men’s H2 race in 32:36 to secure America’s fifth gold.

Britain proved to be the dominant force in the tandem events with Lorah Turnham and Corrine Hall combined to win the women’s race in 34:44, seeing off the challenge of The Netherlands’ Odette van Duedekom and Kim van Dijk by 0.9sec.

The men’s tandem event was also a closely fought contest with Britain’s Stephen Bate and Adam Duggleby crossing in 29:49.

Americans Aaron Scheidies and Benjamin Collins finished 10 seconds behind their rivals.