Waipā paralympian 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.
Eltje Malzbender (New Zealand) rides for bronze. Photo: SWpix
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 tomorrow where she competes over an undulating 31.8km distance which includes a total of 257m of elevation.
Malzbender has harvested an impressive collection of medals on the global stage having claimed double gold in the women’s T1 individual time trial and women’s T1 road race at the 2019 Para-Cycling Road World Championships and a silver medal in each of those events at the 2023 edition in Glasgow.
The experienced Kiwi, who has been preparing for her assault at the Zurich 2024 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships at Limoux in the South of France since mid-August, has been training on quiet roads in the south of France.
She had not raced since the World Cup in Adelaide in January while her competition has been racing all summer in Europe.
“My goals are to perform at my best and achieve a podium result.”
Picture by Ed Sykes/SWpix.com – 11/08/2023 – Road Cycling – 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – Women’s T2 Road Race Podium – Shelley Gautier of Canada in Bronze, Eltje Malzbender of New Zealand in Silver and Pavlina Vejvodova of Czech Republic in The Rainbow Jersey
Malzbender lives with a traumatic brain injury following a crash during a training ride in 2016 when she was left on the rural roadside at Marokopa west of Waitomo Caves. At the time she was a physiotherapist in Te Kūiti.
After spending over a year in rehab she moved to Cambridge, where the flat terrain, wide footpaths and a residence close to town provided the ideal place to begin rebuilding her life.
She was introduced to riding a tricycle at the Cambridge velodrome and was selected on the 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.
Vicki Fleming her coach and athlete support in Zurich said preparations had been going well.
“Eltje has been preparing well and she hopes to maximise her opportunities in Zurich. She has a great record of success at the world championships and will once again be seeking to win a medal.”
Eltje Malzbender, left, and Barbara Alink, inventor of the walking bike Alinker, at the Velodrome in Cambridge. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.
Road Cycling – 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland – Women’s T1 Individual Time Trial – Eltje Malzbender sets off down the start ramp. Photo: SWpix
