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Today, Friday 6th of September, marked the penultimate day of para-cycling competition at the 2024 Paralympic Games. Team Ireland had four bikes competing throughout the day.

The highlight of the day came in the Women’s B Road Race when Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted Linda Kelly, won Silver and Josephine Healion, piloted by Eve McCrystal, were fourth in the Women’s B Road Race.

Women’s B Road Race

Following their outstanding Gold medal-winning performance on Wednesday in the Women’s B Individual Time Trial, Katie-George Dunlevy, piloted by Linda Kelly, claimed Silver in the Women’s B Road Race this afternoon.

Dunlevy, previously piloted by Eve McCrystal, won Gold in this race in Tokyo and brought home Silver from Rio in 2016. This medal brings Dunlevy’s total Paralympic medal tally to an incredible eight medals across three Games.

Kelly, who only began piloting Dunlevy last year, made a brilliant Paralympic debut. The pair will now head to Zurich to defend their World titles later this month.

The podium switched from Wednesday, with victory going to Sophie Unwin, piloted by Jenny Holl, for Great Britain in a time of 2:37:26. The Team Ireland bike was not far behind, coming home in 2:37:29. Lora Fachie, piloted by Corrine Hall, also for Great Britain completed the podium.

Dunlevy and Kelly held the lead for the majority of the 99.4km race, with Unwin and Holl, narrowly edging ahead around the final corner and sprinting to the finish line.

Dunlevy had mixed emotions post-race, “I wanted to win the gold so I’m a bit disappointed, but a silver medal is amazing. It was a tough race, we were up the road with one of the GB bikes and they refused to do the work, so we were just at the front attacking on each hill trying to get away and we just couldn’t get away from them. They are sprinters. I think we had nothing left at that stage after giving so much in the hills.”

Pilot Linda Kelly reflected on the tough battle, “It’s a silver medal, very, very happy. We knew they were behind us and we were like, we were pushing, but then we had to ease off as well because we wanted to conserve our energy. We did get in front of them down the technical zone, they were just glued to the back of our wheel. But I’m absolutely over the moon. As I said the other day, it’s just like a dream. I’m absolutely delighted.”

Dunlevy added, “With all the setbacks and everything, it means a lot. I’m delighted. Lots of celebrations with family tonight. I’m just so proud that we’re able to get a medal like this.”

In what has been a dream Paralympic debut Josephine Healion, piloted by Eve McCrystal finished in fourth place in a time of 2:42:05.

Speaking afterwards, Healion said, “It was very hard, very tough, but we’re very happy with that. There’s some really strong bikes and really strong women that have been at this longer than me, I did the best I could – I give it my all. I’m not at the top of my game, not as seasoned as some of the rest of them but I want to get to that point.”

McCrystal added, “She did really well. It was probably the longest race that Josie has done, it was warm today, so we tried to just keep cooling as much as we could. We stayed with the group, and then we just got detached on the climb. Fourth was the best we could do today.”

For McCrystal, today was her final Paralympic race, the pilot, who made her Paralympic debut in Rio fondly reflected on the journey.

“It has just been amazing. I’ve got so many highs. I have six Paralympic medals now. I never thought ten years ago that I would be here. I’m so happy to have the kids over here again today. I’m going to enjoy it with them and celebrate.”

“Huge thank you to this woman for coming on board and mentoring me and guiding me throughout this journey. I’m very grateful.” Healion added.

Men’s C4-5 Road Race

A mechanical in the final lap of the Men’s C4-5 Road Race denied Ronan Grimes a much deserved high to end his cycling career on. Grimes had been in 11th place going into the final lap but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. He ultimately finished in 17th place.

Racing around the 99.4km circuit Clichy-Sous-Bois, Paris this morning was his final appearance for Team Ireland following a fantastic Para-cycling career.

Grimes has been a longstanding member of the Team Ireland Para-cycling squad. He has now competed in two Paralympic Games – Tokyo and Paris. Competing on both the track and the road Grimes has multiple World Championship top ten placings to his name.

Speaking afterwards Grimes said, “Second last lap coming up, the last climb, I was really feeling it, and now looking back the wheel was actually starting to lose air, then starting the last lap the neutral service car went between me and the three lads I was with in the gap ahead, maybe 200/300 metres up from that I punctured.

“It felt like an hour, but I must’ve been at least 20 mins waiting for a wheel. I’m relying on the official cars and it’s just unfortunate that we had a car in our group, and it just moved ahead of me when I was distanced there and didn’t seem to be another car in the group.

“Tenth position would’ve been a really good result in that C4-5 race, 5 minutes later I saw the group behind come by and then the next group behind come by and then the car was put in to the neutral service and then eventually a wheel came and I’d say the officials were upset, but I really wanted to finish the race.”

The race included riders classified as both C4 and C5. Grimes, who is C4, commented on the challenges this brings, “It’s a difficult one, like for a lot of that race I was with the Australian rider Alistair Donoghue, who I think has finished top three overall in the race when it was an eight-day stage race, which not many Irish lads will do that – so that’s the calibre, that’s the lad that’s like in that race is going for sixth, you know.

“It’s difficult, it’s a combined C4, C5 race. I mean, I gave it every single ounce of energy I have to try and get a good result out of it, but it’s just physically just two different races going on there.”

It may not have been the end to his cycling career that he hoped for but Grimes has so much to be proud of.

“I’m finished now, and I’m retired. This is my last race. It was nice to finish my last race rather than finish it in the car. I’m happy, like I am, I’m a bit disappointed, like I would have liked to have finished top ten, that would have been a nice cherry on the cake, but overall, like I look back fondly on this, and yeah, like I think I can finish on it.

“The results won’t reflect the performance I put in there today, but at least I can say I finished my last Para-cycling race.

“If memory serves me right, it starts off just as a hobby and went from there. It’s strange, the things that life throws up to you. If you’d said to me nine years ago that I’d be here and RTÉ interviewing me – I wouldn’t believe this, unbelievable. It’s been an unbelievable journey, I’ll get emotional, once in a lifetime experience for eight years, and I’m glad I took advantage of it, and all the support I’ve had along the way, it meant the world to me. Thanks a million.”

Men’s B Road Race

Concluding their Games, Damien Vereker, piloted by Mitchell McLaughlin, finished eighth in the Men’s B Road Race. The pair battled it out around a tough 127.8km circuit, coming home in a time of 3:04:18.

“It was hard for me just from the start, yeah. Just fast from the start and it was very tough. You’re just all just trying to stay on the wheel, but I enjoyed it. It’s good with this man [pilot McLaughlin]. He’s the man to keep me going. And the crowds again, were just amazing and seeing the family at the end, just hearing the Irish voices means a lot.” Vereker said.

Pilot McLaughlin reflected on the tough race, joking, “It was hell from the start, it was pretty full on. The French were the first bike to attack during the descent. I had a plan to attack pretty early on, but I just didn’t get into the position. The climb there, just 3k from the finish, was the hardest on the course by far. It was a pretty hard race, and I am cooked but the appetite is there – I’ll be back in LA.”

Paris is Vereker’s second Games, when asked about his plans for the future he said, “I have no plans to stop at the moment – I’ll be back. Cyclists, we’re a weird bunch – the worse it is, the more we want.”

Racing concludes tomorrow, Saturday 7th of September, with Richael Timothy competing in the Women’s C1-3 Road Race.