August 02, 2018 (Maniago, Italy) – Canada opened the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships with a bronze medal on the first day of competition in Maniago, Italy. Alex Hyndman of Morpeth, Ontario, finished third in the men’s H3 category individual time trial.

Hyndman’s time for the 13.6 kilometre race against the clock was 21 minutes and 20.58 seconds, 12.95 seconds behind winner Federico Mestroni of Italy. Paolo Cecchetto of Italy took the silver medal.

“It was an achievement just to make it to Worlds after having an off year,” said Hyndman. “Making the podium…I don’t know what to say. I was able to execute my strategy perfectly. As far as making the podium, I was hoping for a top-8. I crashed here last year in the rain, which made me hammer the brakes this year. I’ve been struggling to get within a minute of the top guys so to finish within 12 seconds is a huge achievement.”

Two other members of Team Canada raced in the H3 category on Thursday, with Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Quebec, finishing 11th despite crashing, and Joey Desjardins of Hawksbury, Ontario, finishing 12th.

On Friday, Canada will have three defending world champions competing in the time trial – Shelley Gautier of Toronto in women’s T1, Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, BC, in C2 men and Michael Sametz of Calgary in men’s C3.