Ostend, BEL – Tristen Chernove has struck gold again, winning a pair of gold medals at the second round of the Para-cycling World Cup in Ostend, Belgium this weekend.
Chernove represented a strong performance from the Canadian team, which captured nine medals — including five gold — while also finishing fourth overall in the nation standings.
Chernove dominated the Men’s C2 category, winning the Time Trial by nearly 14 seconds, and the Road Race by almost three minutes.
“Getting to race our bikes in the epicenter of cycling is fantastic,” said Tristen Chernove. “It was a really great time trial for me. The [time trial] course was an interesting mix of technical and difference surfaces, with fairly narrow roads and tight corners, and some wind, made for a challenge. The result was exactly what I was looking for. There are still elements of my ride that I can improve upon. This has been a really great event, and I look forward to coming back in the future.”
The objective for Canada at this international competition was to assess the competitiveness of the Canadian athletes in the international field as they begin final preparations for the Paralympic Games.
“With a little over one hundred days to the opening of the Paralympic Games in Rio, it is great to see where our athletes’ fitness is,” stated Jacques Landry, High Performance Director at Cycling Canada. “This World Cup was well represented by all top nations and so it’s reassuring to see that our program is on the right track as far as preparation is concerned. Thanks to hard working, professional and experienced staff, there is no doubt that on-going athlete assessments and continued monitoring will lead to our athletes prepared for optimal performances come September.”
It's the second time Chernove has hit the podium at a World Cup event; earlier in April, Chernove took home a pair of gold medals at the Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Italy.
An avid cyclist and athlete, Chernove hasn't let his diagnosis of a degenerative neurological condition—Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease—in 2009 interfere with his active lifestyle.
Chernove is the CEO of Elevate Airports, which manages the Canadian Rockies International Airport, and was recently honoured by the Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce by being named Business Person of the Year.