Malzbender Secures Global Bronze With Blistering Time Trial Display

Kiwi Eltje Malzbender executed one of the finest rides of her career to take an outstanding bronze medal in the Women’s T1 Individual Time Trial at the Zurich 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships earlier today.

Riding in temperatures of around 17C, the 62-year-old Cambridge-based tricyclist completed the 11.3km route in a time of 24:08:50 – at an average speed of 28.084km to take her spot on the podium.

Gold was secured by Marieke Van Soest of the Netherlands in a time of 20:51.44 with the 2023 champion Pavlina Vejvodova of Czechia in silver (21:43.08). Malzbender finished significantly clear of Fatima Saipova of Uzbekistan (27:52.89) in fourth.

Malzbender, who claimed a silver medal in this event at the 2023 edition, was elated with her performance: “I’ve been competing internationally for seven years and despite not racing for the past eight months, I recorded a personal best average speed time, faster than when I became world champion (in 2019).

“The road was smooth with only one turnaround, which suited me well. I listened to my coach, encouraging me to ride faster and I rode strongly throughout.

“I’m very proud to represent New Zealand and be on the podium once again.”

Malzbender returns to competition at Zurich 2024 in the Women’s T1 Road Race on Friday starting at 9.02pm (NZT).

Malzbender, who lives with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a crash during a training ride, was introduced to riding a tricycle at the Cambridge velodrome and she was later selected on the HPSNZ Pathway to Podium programme with Paralympics New Zealand in 2018. She represented her country at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games finishing fifth in the Women’s T1-2 Individual Time Trial.

To follow results of the 2024 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships go here

Notes:

About the New Zealand Paralympic Team

NZ Paralympic Team strives to challenge perceptions towards disability, showcasing high performance athletes who prove anything is possible.

Since Tel Aviv 1968 Paralympic Games, 237 New Zealand Paralympians have been part of New Zealand Paralympic Teams competing at 27 Paralympic Games (15 summer and 12 winter) winning a staggering 245 medals (210 in summer and 35 in winter).

About Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ)

Paralympics New Zealand is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for New Zealand. We are a charity and our overall vision is ‘Transforming lives through Para sport’. As a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), we are part of a worldwide social change movement, which uses the power of sport to positively influence community perceptions of disabled people and to promote a more diverse and inclusive society.

To do this, we support and celebrate the achievements of Para athletes at international and national competitions all year round. Every two years, we lead New Zealand teams to the Paralympic Games. We also work in the local community to advocate for sport to become more accessible for disabled people and to support the creation of more systems and programmes to enable participation in Para sport.

Our funding comes from a mix of public donations, fundraisers, philanthropic partners, commercial partners, plus government and community grants, which together make our Para sport, community and advocacy programmes possible.

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