A little rain wasn’t stopping Paralympian Samantha Bosco (Claremont, California) from taking a back-to-back title in the WC4 road race only two days after her road time trial gold.
Bosco leaves the 2023 UCI Para-cycling World Championships as the most decorated U.S. cyclist securing two gold, one silver and two bronze across the track and road events. The medal marks Bosco’s 20th career world championship podium appearance.
“Today was hard,” said Bosco. “It was a matter of just reading the race, staying dry, being warm, eating enough food and having enough fuel to make it to the finish. I had to just put it all out there. I didn’t expect to be the most decorated, but it feels pretty good.”
Paralympic silver medalist Aaron Keith (Woodinville, Washington) led the way for the U.S. men in the morning’s races grabbing a top four finish in the men’s C1 road race – his last event of the championships. Keith heads home with two bronze medals added to his collection with top three finishes in the road time trial and track scratch race.
Eight-time Paralympic medalist Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colorado) continued to impress since returning from retirement with a fourth-place finish in the WC2 road race while three-time Paralympic champion Shawn Morelli (Meadville, Pennsylvania) was also just shy of podium with a top four in the women’s C4.
“The weather held out for us ladies this afternoon in Dumfries, so I stayed dry most of the way thankfully,” said Jones. “Fourth place in that field is super awesome, they are very competitive strong women. It is an honor to be a part of that group and the competitiveness that is up there.”
MC4 riders C.J. Howard (Sacramento, California) and John Terrell (Converse, Texas) kicked off the day placing 14th and 24th respectively. Still feeling the effects of a stomach bug, C3 power couple Clara Brown (Falmouth, Maine) and Noah Middlestaedt (Saint Cloud, Minnesota) took home an eighth and 14th place ranking in their respective road races, their sole events of this world championships. Alongside Brown on the finish line was Paralympian Jamie Whitmore (Somerset, California) who crossed the finish line in seventh position. In the WC5 class, Paralympic hopeful Elizabeth Mis (Medina, Ohio) is headed home with a top 10 ranking.
Team USA returns for the last day of competition on Sunday, Aug. 13 for the team handcycle relays where Travis Gaertner (Burien, Washington), Brandon Lyons (St. Augustine, Florida), and Alicia Dana (Putney, Vermont) will battle for the Americans to reach the podium one last time.
Credit: US Olympic and Paralympic Committee