Pieter du Preez dominates time trial to win Paralympic gold

Pieter du Preez held nothing back on Tuesday, demolishing the field in the men’s H1 road cycling time trial to win gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

The quadriplegic handcyclist completed the 16km course in 43:49.41. He was nearly two minutes faster than Italian veteran Fabrizio Cornegliani, who took second place in 45:44.56.

“This is very special. I was in tears just now, a little bit, and I think I’m going to cry in my bed tonight,” Du Preez said.

The 41-year-old athlete, who was paralysed in a car accident in 2003, hoped he had provided some inspiration to his compatriots back home in a challenging year.

“Every South African needs to stand up because I think one man can make a difference,” he said.

“It starts within yourself, and then the people around you, but we can all make a difference and make South Africa No 1.”

Meanwhile, countryman Ernst van Dyk finished ninth in the men’s H5 time trial.

The 48-year-old defending champion crossed the line well off the pace in 44:34.88.

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On the track, Anika Pretorius was third in her T13 100m heat in a personal best 12.41 seconds, booking her place in the final to be held later in the day.

Anrune Weyers took fourth place in her T47 100m heat in 12.66.

Weyers, who won 400m gold at the weekend, missed out on the short sprint final by 0.02.

In the swimming pool, Christian Sadie was ranked ninth in the men’s S7 50m freestyle in 29.22, and he did not qualify for the final.

After the morning session on day seven of the Tokyo Games, the SA team had moved up to 25th position in the overall table with four medals (three gold and one silver).