Champions Hayward, Clement lead Canada's 4-medal haul in cycling at Parapan Am Games

Two Para cyclists reached the medal podium in the same road race for Canada at the Parapan Am Games on Sunday in Santiago, Chile.

Alex Hayward of Quispamsis, N.B., and Calgary's Mike Sametz earned gold and bronze in the men's C1-5 time trial.

Hayward stopped the clock in 26 minutes 21.14 seconds, defeating Brazil's Lauro Cesar by 44.92 seconds. Sametz clocked 27:25.14 for third in the field of 26.

"Mike and I trained for a week in Bromont and we joked it would be nice if we could both get on the podium," Hayward said. "To do it in the first race is really special."

Later in the day, reigning men's T1 (tricycle) road time trial champion Nathan Clement and two-time Paralympian Charles Moreau of Victoriaville, Que., raised Canada's medal total to eight at these Games. Clement won his race while Moreau grabbed bronze in the H1-5 (handcycle) time trial.

In August, the 26-year-old Hayward was fifth in the C3 road race at the Para world championships in Dumfries, Scotland after not expecting to compete following a month-long battle with mononucleosis.

It marked the best international result at worlds for Hayward, who was sixth in his 2022 debut in Baie-Comeau, Que.

Alexandre Hayward wins Canada's second gold medal at the 2023 Parapan Am Games in the Para Cycling Men's C1-5 Time Trial