Paralympians, world champions shine on opening day of 2024 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Road Open

BRYAN, TEXAS  – Paralympians and world champions won nearly half of the time trial competitions on the first day of the 2024 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Road Open as more than 50 of the country’s top Para-cyclists raced for roster spots on the upcoming UCI Para-Cycling World Cup tour. Taking place at Texas A&M University–RELLIS in Bryan, Texas, the two-day event will conclude with the road race Sunday.

World champions Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Oregon) and Kate Brim (Lowell, Michigan) were victorious in the MT2 and WH2 races, respectively.

Connors, who also brought home two medals from the 2023 Parapan American Games last November, said he was encouraged by a strong result in today's race.

“I’ve been trying out some new tactics and had a fantastic training block between January and now,” he said. “I came out here unsure if those paid off, and I think they paid off really well. Time trial is typically not my better event, and I’ve been focused in on road racing. But being able to put this together in the TT just gives me more confidence heading into the rest of the season.”

Also a two-time 2023 Parapan American Games medalist, Brim, meanwhile, said she recognizes the importance of the competition as a stepping stone as she seeks her first Paralympic berth this summer in Paris.

“This summer has come quick, I think we were all realizing it, that we’re in the heat of the season now,” she said. “We’re all going to give it everything we have, and I did that today. I hope to continue to dial in my performance the rest of the season.”

Other Paralympians to win their time trial races include Oksana Masters (Louisville, Kentucky), Monica Sereda (St. Petersburg, Florida), Alicia Dana (Putney, Vermont), Freddie De Los Santos (Hopewell Junction, New York), Ryan Pinney (Phoenix, Arizona), Samantha Bosco (Claremont, California), Aaron Keith (Woodinville, Washington), Jamie Whitmore (Somerset, California) and Allison Jones (Colorado Springs, Colorado).

Impressing in his first-ever Para-cycling race was 18-year-old Elouan Gardon (Acme, Washington), who won the MC5 competition in convincing fashion. In her first Para-cycling race as a WC5 athlete, former pilot Laurel Rathbun (Encinitas, California) captured the win in the WC5 race.

Medalists are listed below, and full results from the weekend’s racing can be found here. The preliminary selection ranking lists can be found here.

For media requests and photo inquiries, please contact Kristen Gowdy at Kristen.Gowdy@usopc.org.

2024 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Road Open Time Trial Medalists

WT2
1. Monica Sereda

2. Ellie Kennedy

3. Amanda Kloepfer

MH1

1. Barry Wilcox

MT2
1. Dennis Connors

2. Matthew Rodriguez

3. Michael Davis

WH5

1. Oksana Masters

WH4
1. Ryen Reed

WH3

1. Alicia Dana

2. Jenna Rollman

3. Gabrielle Platt

MH2
1. Cody Wills

2. Jeremy Van Tress

3. Dunston Delmon

WH2

1. Kate Brim

MH5

1. Freddie De Los Santos

2. Josue Barron

3. Roderick Sewell

MH4

1. Matt Tingley

2. Travis Gaertner

3. Zachary Stinson

MH3

1. Ryan Pinney

2. Owen Daniels

3. Brandon Lyons

MC1
1. Aaron Keith

WC5
1. Laurel Rathbun

2. Andrea Cherniak-Tyson

WC4

1. Samantha Bosco

2. Shawn Morelli

WC3

1. Jamie Whitmore

2. Clara Brown

WC2

1. Allison Jones

MB
1. Branden Walton (with pilot Spencer Moavenzadah)

MC5

1. Elouan Gardon

2. Kyle Pitman

3. Erik Olson

MC4

1. C.J. Howard

MC3

1. Justin Mathers

2. Joe Berenyi