Swiss Frei becomes second road cyclist with double golds

Source: Xinhua | 09-14-2008 19:36

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Swiss Heinz Frei became second cyclist at the Beijing Paralympic Games to win two gold medals after taking the men's HC B class road race here on Sunday.

After winning Friday's individual time trial, the 50-year-old edged out four opponents after 48.4 km to take the title by just 0.01 second.

"It's crazy. It's really difficult because every eye was on me during the race. You have to be not only tactical, but also fast," said Frei. "For me, it's necessary to make sure not to go too slowly, because there are not too many people around me. The only goal was to go first in the last downhill."

Frei will also take part in men's 800m race in the athletics event in the Bird's Nest stadium. And he will run the men's marathon, too.

"After today's race, it's maybe a bit difficult for me to win in the race. My arms feel a bit tried. Maybe I'll lose the final.

"I don't have the hope for a medal in marathon, but as an athlete who's done 102 marathons in his career, I like to be in it and I must be in it. I will like to be on the road in Beijing."

German Max Weber, gold medallist at the 2007 Paracycling world championships, won the silver even though Edward Maalouf of Lebanon in bronze position clocked the same time.

The finish of men's road race in HC C category was no less exciting than the HC B class rush to the line. Three cyclists entered the final straight with nothing between them and crossed the line with just 0.01 second separating first from third.

Ernst van Dyk of South Africa was judged to have inched the gold ahead of Americans Alejandro Albor and Oz Sanchez who were awarded silver and bronze despite being given the same time.

Van Dyk's victory gave South Africa its first gold at the event and went with the title he took at the 2007 worlds. It also made up for the South African's disappointment at missing out on a medal in the time trial in which he placed fourth.

"I've been waiting for this for 16 years, and finally I got a gold medal. It's stuffed my work," said van Dyk.

"Winning the race is the biggest thing to me. It was a lot different from my daily training."

Belarussian pair Iryna Fiadotava and pilot Alena Drazdova won their country's the first title in the road cycling event with a result of one hour 55 minutes and 35 seconds at the B&VI class women's road race, three minutes ahead of silver medallists Karissa Whitsell and pilot Mackenzie Woodring of the United States.

The final gold in the event went to Andrzej Zajzc and pilot Dariusz Flak of Poland, who took title in men's road race of B&VI category.

Editor:Zhang Ning