Australia finishes successful Paris 2024 Paralympics para-cycling campaign in C1-3 road races

Australia has wrapped up its Paris 2024 campaign ranked fifth in the para-cycling events with a total of 11 medals: five on the track and six in the road events. 

The team’s four gold and four silver medals equalled their haul in Tokyo but they claimed two fewer bronze medals here in Paris. 

Three Australians competed on the final day of road cycling in Clichy-sous-Bois, on the eastern outskirts of Paris, and while no medals came their way, they all have some added baggage for the trip back to Australia. 

In the men’s C1-3 road race, Darren Hicks (C2) crossed the line in 13th place, eight minutes behind British gold medallist Finlay Graham (C3). Hicks was the fourth C2 man to finish. 

“That was a tough day on the bike,” said Hicks, who earlier in the week won bronze in the time trial.

“I rode both the road race and road time trial really well and I just hoped for a fairy tale that I didn’t quite fulfil. 

“We’ll re-evaluate and maybe come back for LA (Los Angeles in 2028) and who knows that might be where the fairy tale happens.” 

Hicks’ teammate Gordon Allan, a specialist track cycling kilo rider, also lined up for five laps (71km) of the testing 14km circuit and finished in 22nd place, just shy of 20 minutes behind Graham. 

“That was definitely a tough day in the office but it’s always cool to get the opportunity to wear the green and gold and compete in the Paralympics,” Allan said.  

“When I was given the option to start the road race (his first at international level) I took it with both hands,” said the 26-year -old from Sydney. 

“Just to finish and get a taste of international racing from the days leading in, to warming up, to getting on the start line, to how the bunch operated, it was a pretty cool experience.” 

Allan leaves Paris with the bronze medal he claimed along with Alistair Donohoe and Korey Boddington in the C1-5 team sprint, his first Paralympics medal.

Amanda Reid, the 500m time trial gold medallist from the velodrome, was the third Australian in action on Saturday, contesting four laps (56.8km) of the same circuit in the women’s C1-3 road race. 

“That hurt, a lot,” she said after completing the distance and finishing 13th, 18 minutes behind Keiko Sugiura for who claimed Japan’s first Paris 2024 para-cycling gold medal.

Reid said her fourth Paralympic Games had been one to remember. 

“It’s just been an experience and a half,” she said.  

“Walking away with the gold in the 500m TT again is pretty cool and then to top it off, with road, just for some fun, although it wasn’t so much fun. But I just really enjoyed my campaign this time around. 

“Now I’m looking to a well-earned rest and then I’ll hopefully get back into it again after that.” 

Originally published on Paralympics Australia by Gennie Sheer.

Feature picture: Kevin Voigt/Getty Images