Paracycling: Sharp speeds towards Paralympic goal

Fraser Sharp turns for the finish during his winning time trial at Adelaide last week.

A careless mistake by a motorist in 1993 has caused a lifetime of challenges for Fraser Sharp.

The near-fatal accident left him in a coma for 30 days, with multiple fractures and irreparable frontal lobe brain damage.

But the Tauranga resident, now aged 38, is once again proving the doubters wrong as he eyes selection in the New Zealand cycle team for the Paralympics in Rio next year.

In the last week he has made giant steps towards making that goal happen.

He competed against the best riders from Malaysia, Korea, Australia and New Zealand at the 2015 Cycling Australia Para-Cycling C1 event in Adelaide, winning the 16.6km time trial and placing third in the 70.6km road race.

In both races he beat multiple Paralympic Games medallist and Korean champion Jin Yongsik.

On Thursday at the national championships in Napier, Sharp won the 25km time trial in a time of 36:29, nearly three minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

"Well, the big thing for myself wasn't just the gold but the fact I was 104 per cent above the UCI time standard," Sharp said.

"I was pushing, pushing, giving it my all and not holding anything back.

"I rely on my strength to pull me through and my body to hold itself together until the finish.

"I have been there before and the body never forgets how to suffer.

"The last two events are all progress and I am on schedule but I will be much happier once I am on the plane to Rio.

"I have been lucky with the support I have had from the community in Tauranga, Port of Tauranga, my family and a Sport Bay of Plenty scholarship."

Stuart MacDonald, Paracycling New Zealand coach with the team in Adelaide, is delighted with the progress Sharp has made.

"Fraser's ride was a standout for me, beating his nearest rival from Korea by two minutes in the 25km time trial," MacDonald said.

"Winning margins as big as that over the 25km distance are relatively unheard of, and it was great for Fraser to not only gain international experience but also gain huge confidence as we begin the countdown towards Rio.

"He again stamped his authority in Napier, winning the gold medal in very tough windy conditions.

"Next on the agenda for Fraser is the international event in Cambridge in two weeks' time, then he looks towards the World Cup events in Italy and Switzerland in early June."

With Sharp's refusal to accept he is beaten and his determination to keep improving, no one should bet against him making the team to Rio.

Fundraiser to help get Sharp to Europe: www.dreamfunda.com/Member/Fraser