INDYCAR: Zanardi wins Paralympic handcycling gold

Former IndyCar star Alessandro Zanardi has claimed his third Paralympic handcycling gold medal after winning the H5 time trial at Pontal in Rio de Janiero.

The 49-year-old was 18 seconds behind at the 10km mark of the time trial, with the first cyclist to complete the route, Australian Stuart Tripp, setting the pace. But Zanardi had a strong finish, overhauling Tripp over the second half of the route to take the gold medal by 2.74 seconds with a time of 28m36.81s.

It's the first of two events Zanardi is contesting in Rio, with the second on Friday when he will be part of the three-man Italian team in the H2-H5 team mixed relay.

Zanardi, who won the H4 time trial and road race at London 2012, is competing in his second Paralympics after first taking up handycling in 2007 and moved into the H5 class three years ago.

Since taking up competitive handcycling in 2007, Zanardi has also won six world championship gold medals – most recently winning the H5 time trial last year.

Tomorrow is the 15th anniversary of the Champ Car accident at EuroSpeedway Lausitz that cost Zanardi both of his legs.

Originally on Autosport.com