March 22, 2018 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Canada’s Tristen Chernove of Cranbrook, B.C. brought home gold and Ross Wilson of Edmonton captured silver on the opening day of the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships, March 22-25, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Both riders won the qualification rounds to ride for gold at the Velodromo Municipal do Rio, the site of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Chernove defended his title in the men’s C2 Individual Pursuit, winning the 3000 metre race Liang Guihua of China in 3:44.385.

“It’s really nice to be back here riding at the Rio velodrome,” said Chernove, “and to get a chance for redemption [Chernove won silver at the Paralympics in this event]. I’m glad to be the world champion again. I won’t say it was a comfortable race, but I had everything under control and the ride went well.”

Ross settled for second in the men’s C1 Individual Pursuit which he won last year as Ricardo Argiles of Spain won the gold. “The qualifying went really well,” said Wilson, “and I posted a wonderful time of 3:52.141, a personal best for me, and if I hadn’t had to pass my opponent I would have been close to that world record I am chasing.

“In the final I tried my absolute best, and it turned out it was a little bit shy of what was required. So it is back to the training boards and hopefully next year I’ll have a shot at redemption and be ready for Tokyo in 2020,” he added.

Other Canadians competing included Marie-Claude Molnar of St-Hubert, Quebec, finished 8th in the women’s C4 500 metre time trial and Keely Shaw of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan placed 10th in the same event.

Results here.

With files from Cycling Canada.