The World Deaf Cycling Championships closed spectacularly with a horde of International cyclists ready to start with the 120km race, only it was in foggy Pescadero instead of the drier, desert-like south bay area. It is a 75-mile long race for 2 1/2 laps through strong uphills at the end of each lap around the finish line. It was where the grunting cyclists went through hell as their stamina was tested with the refining fire.

It was cooler for everyone luckily for the cyclists who pedaled through the fiery trials of fire and sulphur representing the uphill course; the ones who endured to the end would finish in the top 10.

The greatest entry the world of Cycling has seen at this USA hosted event was made by South African Terence Parkin, a 2000 Sydney Olympic swimmer. He didn’t just make the transition to cycling, he is doing both amazingly.

Be an Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer and the same, a Gold Medalist at the World Games for the Deaf? Who has seen an athlete to successfully do that? While Parkin can do the 200m Breaststroke, he sure can cycle the 120km road race and surge ahead while using the swimmer’s expanded lungs for the final push!

He kept getting yellow shirts, remember? He was not only tied for the yellow shirt at the Pescadero race, he won the 120km road race at World Deaf Cycling Championships and became part of history. He won’t be the record-setter but he is capable of breaking records. The Parkin watch is on, and has always been.

“I cruised with the pack of the other cyclists but had a hard time in the first two laps. When I reached the uphill parts of the course, I took the lead. I knew that I could do it and that it was to my advantage,” exclaimed Parkins.

Adds Parkin, “I surprised myself because I was able to beat the uphills which pushed me as a winner”

Colombia’s Carlos Luis Sanchez echoed the same sentiments, but he fell behind Parkin eventually.

Sanchez, the 2nd place finisher, is a remarkably resilient cyclist who managed to finish closely in several of the cycling events during the week. He proved himself to be an excellent endurance type of athlete. He was seen gulping a banana just before the road race began. Sanchez also felt bloated throughout the race needing to be relieved throughout the course; but he kept up with the time and finished strong.

Frantisek Kocourek, of the Czech Republic, finished third despite a mechanical problem with his bike’s downshifting. He had to manually adjust it with his hands while cycling at the same time, while keeping pace, like a multi-task finisher. He might as well be scratching his back while racing and still finish in the top three!

Later Robin Horwitz, WDCC’s director was seen telling Parkin that if he defeated Schreiber, a category 2 rider who is a pro then Parkin should become a pro cyclist as well, with no questions asked.

USA’s Schreiber ended up winning the WDCC championship edging Terence Parkin with Daniel Carruthers of New Zealand finishing third, after the overall results were announced. Schreiber captured two Golds in the 35 km Individual Time Trials and in the 40 km Points Race, and a silver in the 1000-meter Sprint, and 6th place in the 120 km Road Race. Schreiber exhibited great spirit and humility in capturing the Gold Medal in this historic event which took place for the first time on U.S. soil.

Terence Parkin was the big surprise but then again didn’t we miss the fact that he is a world class athlete who is a Gold Medalist?

Never underestimate an Olympic Gold Medalist. It took a pro to beat him.

Click here for 2006 WDCC Results