Rohan aims to retain his championship crown

Ballinahown athlete Mark Rohan is this week seeking to retain his Paracycling World Championship crown. Rohan in August 2010 won Ireland's first Paracycling World Championship gold medal when winning the H1 Handcycling Road Race in Baie-Comeau, Canada. This week he is part of a strong Irish team which is participating in the 2011 renewal in Denmark. Rohan will be hopeful of doing the double, having already this year become the first paracyclist to win all six races in a World Cup series. In Denmark, he is competing in both the time trial event and road race event. The time trial is scheduled for Thursday and the road race event for Saturday. Mark's ultimate goal is to secure qualification for the Paralympics in London in 2012. Having taken gold at the World Championships last year, it's likely that a medal this time around in Denmark would ensure him of a place on the Irish team at the London Games. It's expected Ireland will secure at least two qualifying slots in paralympic cycling - and the Paralympic Council of Ireland has devised a panel of potential athletes.