Eduárd Novák (36 yrs old) , cyclist from the Tusnad Cycling Team, Miercuri Ciuc, Romania has become world champion for the third time, after he took gold in the 4 km pursuit race at the veladrome, at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.
Eduárd succeeded in defeating the Czech rider Jiri Jezek, the world record holder in the final, by 3 seconds. Eduárd completed a perfect race and said that this success gives him confidence that he will become Olympic champion at the Paralympic Games in London.
“I’m very happy with this result and for this outstanding performance. In the qualifying round I was 1.6 seconds slower, but in the final I managed to win, which gives me the confidence for London. The time was not the fastest because it is a very tough track and many cyclists failed because of their tactics and choosing the wrong gears”, declared Novák.
Eduárd completed the race in 04:47.9270, followed by the Czech Jiri Jezek in 04:50.8520 and the British cyclist Jody Cundy in the third place. He also won the bronze medal in Los Angeles for the 1km pursuit race.
Eduárd Novák remains the best hope for a gold medal for the Romanian paralympic team in London this year, both at the road race where he is currently world champion (2011, Denmark, World Championship) and now at the veladrome. In Beijing he won the silver medal at the Road Race and two 4th places at the veladrome.
A blog by Sally Wood Lamont
President of the Romanian National Paralympic Committee