Competition wraps-up at World Championships September 18th, 2006
Today’s closing ceremonies marked the conclusion of competition at the 2006 IPC
Cycling World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland. There were numerous medals
for the U.S. Paralympic Cycling Team, including one handcycling medal: Alejandro
Albor’s impressive victory in the road race following a DNS in the TT (more…).
Matt Updike and Greg Hockensmith represented the U.S. competently, finishing
dead-center of the pack in both the tt and road race. Former World Champ, Monica
Bascio fared the same in the tt, finishing 5th, and had a rare bad day in the
road race, finishing 7th. Oscar Sanchez impressed all with his 7th place TT
finish, yet did not finish the road race (details on the way!)….but a nice
effort from the rookie at his first-ever international competition.
Although there is much to celebrate with Albor’s victory this year, the lone
medal haul from our handcyclists leaves some unanswered questions. The 2002
championships in Altenstadt, Germany saw the U.S. bring home no-less than 10
handcycling medals, including three world titles. So why only one this time?
Without question, this topic sparks great debate, but here are some compelling
thoughts:
- Culturally, bike racing is more accepted in Europe. Now that they’ve
caught-up with the technology, they are like “ducks to water” and it’s no
surprise that the racing scene is now “owned” by the Euros.
- New Blood. We need it! Hockensmith, Bascio, Updike, Albor are all in their
30s and 40s and have been racing since the infancy of handcycle racing. While
they’ve all had great success and train very hard, it’s a big burden to carry:
supporting the hopes of a nation for eight years running. So….for those of you
handcyclists out there who have the itch to race: LET US KNOW! Beijing is right
around the corner!
- Changes in classification and technology. The IPC has a lot of work to do to
level the playing field in handcycling, and decisions they’ve made affect the
results. The sport definitely favors some disability groups over others, which
encourages some to seek competition in other fields. Carlos Moleda for example,
has stopped racing because of the classification rules, and Monica Bascio is
concentrating more on cross-country skiing where she “has a better shot at the
podium.” Other former handcyclists are also gravitating towards the snow. Seth
Arseneau even declined a spot on the world’s team this season, yet became the
first-ever “Off-road World Champion.” (more on offroad...)
- Preparedness. In order to do well in a big race, you have to have experience
in big races! While there are plenty of events in the U.S…..they don’t often
attract the numbers of elite athletes that races in Europe do. We hope this
changes in the coming years as bigger and better events take shape in the U.S.

- Coaching. The Europeans have very developed programs that offer great
coaching. While CTS coaches the elite Paralympic athletes in America, they work
with an average of five handcyclists per year. Expect to see some better
coaching and training resources from the USHF in the coming seasons.
- Support. We need support for our developing athletes. This means sponsors,
training camps, coaching, and better races with bigger fields. Not to mention
moral support from their peers and fans.
In light of all of the above, it points out the incredible accomplishments of
all of our elite athletes, including Albor’s achievement on Sunday. But finding
an athlete with the potential to be a World Champion doesn’t happen everyday. We
are lucky to have 5 of them burned in to our history books forever….not to
mention a Paralympic medal from Albor as well. But it does begs the question:


Where is the next champion hiding ?



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