HE'S already a bronzed Aussie, now David Nicholas will focus on becoming king of the road at the Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The talented Para cyclist who now calls Bathurst in NSW's Central West home will line up in Tuesday's C3 road time trial then back up on September 2 for the road race.
Nicholas will undoubtedly face stiff opposition and that there has been no regular international competition for more than a year makes it even tougher to try and gauge the form of his rivals.
But that doesn't trouble the 29-year-old too much, he's keen to 'rip in' once more.
Last Thursday Nicholas showed just how his form is when claiming bronze in the C3 individual pursuit on the track.
Though not able to defend his gold from the Rio Games, he clocked a big personal best in qualifying then averaged 52.459km/hr for the 3,000 metres medal ride later that afternoon.
"Obviously, I'm disappointed not to be on the top spot but I did a PB and I gave it all I had over the two races. I couldn't have done any more," he said.
"I just ripped in with all I had in both rides ... I am so happy to come away with the bronze medal, just was beaten by two better riders.
"Bring on the road TT and road race."
READ MORE PARALYMPIC NEWS:
The road time trial is an event which delivered Nicholas his first Paralympic Games gold medal nine years ago in London when he finished almost nine seconds ahead of his closest rival.
Four years later in Rio de Janeiro, Nicholas placed fourth in the road time trial, finishing 34.68 seconds shy of a podium finish.
He has also been a three-time world champion in this event - claiming the gold for the first time in 2011 in Denmark, finding success again in Canada in 2013 and then six years later at Emmen in the Netherlands he made it a title treble.
That ride in 2019 was one of the more bizarre triumphs of Nicholas' career.
"I was initially told I had come second which I [was] very happy with, but half an hour later I got told I am the official winner because of a recording error," he said of that win.
Nicholas and his 13 rivals - who include the British duo who stood on the individual pursuit podium with him - will chase time trial gold at the undulating Fuji International Speedway, doing laps of an 8km course.
The time trial starts at 2.30pm AEST Tuesday.
