The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games September 6-17, 2008
(BEIJING, September 7) -- Wolfgang Eibeck of Austria last won gold at the Atlanta 1996 Paralymic Games and has tried to repeat the feat unsuccessfully at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. He hopes, after a quarter of a century at the top of his chosen sport, that this will be his year at last.
Although he's number one in the Men's LC1 world rankings, he'll have to work hard to achieve his goal. He's up against stiff competition in the form of Italy's Fabio Triboli and Switzerland's Ivan Renglii, world-ranked second and third respectively, in the Men's Individual Pursuit (LC1) event at the Laoshan Velodrome on Monday, September 8.
An easier ride is expected for Jiri Jezek of Czech Republic who tops the world rankings in the Men's Individual Pursuit (LC2) class. Jezek took gold at the UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Manchester, England earlier this year and won silver at the Athens 2004 Paralympics.
With the top two world-ranked riders missing, the Men's 1km Time Trial (B&VI) final is expected to be fought out between World No. 3 Brian Cowie (Canada), world fourth-ranked Francisco Gonzales (Spain), and Anthony Kappes (Great Britain) and Kieran Modra (Australia) ranked equal No. 5 in the world.
After his world record-breaking performances in the Men's Individual Pursuit (BV&I 1-3) event it would be foolhardy to bet against Modra, although the effort expended taking the Pursuit gold could well have left him drained of resources.
The Women's 500m Time Trial (LC1-2/CP4) looks wide open, although China's Zhou Jufang will be considered one of the front runners having taken gold in the 1km distance at Athens 2000 and is currently ranked No. 3 in the world. Racing in front of her home crowd will undoubtedly spur her to great efforts.
In the Women's 500m Time Trial (LC3-4/CP3), Natalie Simanowski of Germany arrives pumped up after her recent victory at the World Cup in Manchester.
But Simanowski will be pushed all the way by Susan Van Staden (South Africa) currently ranked No. 1 in the LC3 class, Barbara Buchan (United States) World No. 1 in the CP3 class, and by China's Tang Qi who will not only be desperate to win on home territory but will be keen to prove she's better than all the seconds and thirds she's been taking over the past few years.
