Britian, the United States and Spain each won three golds and shared the lead in the road cycling gold medal table on Firday at Paralympic Games.
Team Britian's gold hopefuls for gold, Rachel Morris in the women's individual time trial (HC A/HC B/HC C) and David Stone in the mixed time trial (CP1/CP2), both clinched their respective title and taking Britain's overall Beijing Paralympics tally to 14.
Sarah Storey, a former Paralympic swimmer whose only road cycling success until now was a silver at the 2006 world championships, beat American Jennifer to win in women's individual time trial (LC1/LC2/CP4), which is a new event for the Paralympics. Host China at last got on the medal board with a bronze from Zhou Jufang in the event.
Britain was disappointed to miss the fourth gold. Triple track cycling gold medalist Darren Kenny was tipped to win the gold in men's individual time trial (CP3) but Javier Ochoa of Spain dashed Kenny's hopes of a fourth gold by nearly 12 seconds.
Spain's other winners were Chiristian Venge and Cesar Neira who failed to feature in men's individual time trial (CP4) in either Athens or the 2007 world championships.
Neira beat Athens winner Christopher Scott by just two seconds over the 24.8km circuit and fancied Masashi Ishii of Japan who took a gold and a silver on the track.
Venge and his pilot David Llauredo went on better than a silver they took in Athens, finishing 27 seconds ahead of surprise silver and bronze medalists Alfred Stelleman of Holland and Krzysztof Kosikowski of Poland.
The United States took gold and bronze in the men's individual time trial (HC C) with Oz Sanchez winning by over 20 seconds while teammate Alejandro Albor took bronze.
The Team US won two afternoon golds through Barbara Buchan in women's individual time trial (LC3/LC4/CP3), another new Paralympic class, and Karissa Whitsell with pilot Mackenzie Woodring winning in women's individual time trial (B&VI).
In men's individual time trial (LC2) event, Jiri Jezek of Czech Republic became the second rider to retain his Athens title, 42 seconds ahead of Athens silver medalist Roberto Alcaide of Spain who came in third behind surprise silver medal winner on this occasion, Carol Edward Novak of Romania who placed only fifth at the 2007 worlds.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2008)