Ballymoe cyclist takes home two medals from Italy

A PARA-CYCLIST from Ballymoe was crowned the European Road Race Champion on Sunday.

Two-time Paralympian Richael Timothy put on a brilliant performance on the final day of 2026 UEC Para Cycling European Road Championships in Italy to win gold in the Women’s C3 category, beating Dutch Para-Cyclist Aniek van den Aarssen to the finish line.

The gold was the Ballymoe woman's second medal at the championships, having already won a bronze in the Women’s C3 Time Trial on Friday.

Speaking after her time trial medal, Timothy said that it had been “the best time trial” performance of her life and the result was special, but the biggest thing she would take from it was the “confidence” it gave her.

Timothy, who represented Ireland at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo and Paris, carried that same confidence into Sunday’s race, where she delivered one of the standout Irish performances of the weekend.

Timothy’s two medals were part of the seven medals (two gold, one silver and four bronze) won by Irish Para-Cyclists throughout the championships, which were held in Maniago and Montereale Valcellina.

Twelve athletes represented Ireland across the three days of competition. Alongside Richeal Timothy's medals, Katie-George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly won gold in the Women’s B Time Trial; Sinead Greenan and Alice Sharpe won silver in the Women’s B Road Race; Heather Jameson won two bronze medals in the Women’s C2 Time Trial and Women’s C2 Road Race; while Katie George Dunlevy and Linda Kelly won a bronze in the Women’s B Road Race.

The UCI Para-Cycling Road World Championships will be held in Alabama in the USA this September.