Cycling star Dunlevy wins three more golds

Katie-George Dunlevy. left, and Eve McCrystal on the podium celebrating winning a gold medal at the UCI World Cup in Maniago, Italy.

It was the Gossops Green speedster’s first international competitions since winning gold and silver at the Rio Paralympic Games in September.

Competing with pilot Eve McCrystal for Ireland, they first won the 24km time-trial in Maniago, Italy.

They followed this with a spectacular win in the 80km road race in a treacherous thunderstorm.

Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal in action.

Dunlevy and McCrystal broke away with Greece after attacking on an uphill section of the course half way through the race.

The action switched to Ostend in Belgium for the second World Cup events.

This time she won the 22km time-trial with new pilot Katharine Smith.

Two days later they were narrowly second in a photo-finish in the 80km road race behind Paralympic champions Poland.

Gold medal winners Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal, middle, on the podium in Italy.

Dunlevy said: “I am delighted and proud of my progress since Rio and the results over the past two weeks. We can see what we need to work on and keep on building towards the Road World Championships in August in South Africa.

“Before that though we have the Irish National championships and the third Road World Cup in the Netherlands which will be a crucial step in preparation for the worlds. I thoroughly look forward to the challenges ahead and I’m eager to continue to improve and be the best I can be.”