Lynch Bags Bronze at Para-Cycling World Championships

Defending World Champion, and winner of the 2013 World Cup Series in his category, Colin Lynch, won a Bronze medal in the Men's C2 Time Trial at the 2013 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Baie-Comeau, Canada. USA's Aaron Keith won the Gold medal, with Paralympic Bronze medallist, Maurice Eckhard Tio (Spain) taking Silver. Lynch battled strongly with tough competition to seize the Bronze medal in the 17.3km Time Trial.

Lynch (43) has been racing well all season, having recently won the World Cup Series in the C2 category, and has been consistently on the podium, along with newcomer Keith. With over 20 starters, including Paralympic Champion Graf (GER) and Paralympic Silver medallist, Liang (CHN), racing was always going to be tight.

Speaking after the race Lynch said "I'm really happy with my performance. A lot of months of planning and hard work came to fruition. After the Paralympic Games last year, it was a huge success to beat most of the guys who beat me there, and to re-establish myself on the podium. The sport is moving on so much each year, it is getting harder all the time. It is a sign of my progress to be able to get back on the podium this year. I'm very pleased to be here, and want to thank Brian, Gerry, Neill and Stacey, this was a real team effort.

Riding the same course as Rohan yesterday, the first half involved a lot of climbing, which led to a tricky descent on a slightly wet downhill section."The course was wet today, the surface a little slick. This made it trickier on the downhill, which meant I couldn't completely take advantage of my strengths."
Head Coach Brian Nugent was pleased with Lynch's medal "I'm very pleased with Bronze. Keith took the Gold, and Eckhard the Silver, and there was a real battle for the Bronze medal, which Colin won out. Competition is really high this year so we are really pleased to get on the podium.

Racing continues later today with Paralympic Bronze medallist stoker, James Brown races at 6.50pm Irish time with new pilot, Mark Bleakley. Shortly after, Ireland's two female tandems will compete, with recent World Cup Bronze medallists Katie-George Dunlevy and Fiona Guihen starting at 7.15pm Irish time, followed by Paralympic Bronze Medallists in this discipline, Catherine Walsh and Fran Meehan, who start two minutes later. Saturday and Sunday will see all athletes compete in the Road Races.