Wilcox and Perry Claim Silver in Handcycle Road Races at the 2025 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships

The 2025 UCI Paracycling Road World Championships focused on road races today in Ronse. Barry Wilcox (Port Angeles, Wash.) and Emelia Perry (Philadelphia) claimed podium finishes, each riding to silver in their respective categories. 

Team USA’s Alfredo de los Santos (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) and Josue Barron (Los Angeles) rode together and stayed strong throughout the Men’s H5 61.6-kilometer road race. The pair started near the front of the peloton, maintaining a high pace through the opening lap. 

On lap two, France’s Loïc Vergnaud and Netherlands’ Mitch Valize broke away to form the lead group, while de los Santos stayed close in the chase alongside Tim De Vries (NED) and Krzysztof Plewa (POL), battling for bronze. The trio remained locked together through laps three and four, with positioning proving critical on the technical final kilometer of cobblestones and tight turns. 

In the sprint for third, de los Santos went head-to-head with De Vries, who edged him out to claim the bronze, with de los Santos finishing just behind in fourth. Barron held strong in the chase group and crossed the line in sixth. 

1. Mitch Valize (NED)  

2. Loic Vergnaud (FRA)  

3. Tim de Vries (NED)  

4. Freddie de los Santos (USA)  

6. Josue Barron (USA)  

Ryan Pinney (Phoenix) put in a solid ride in the Men’s H3 race over 61.6-kilometers. As groups formed on the plateau between the first climbs, Pinney remained active in the chase group. He later moved into a secondary chase group, continuing to push hard throughout the race and finishing in eighth place. 

1. Mathieu Bosredon (FRA)  

2. Martino Pini (ITA) 

3. Mirko Testa (ITA) 

8. Ryan Pinney (USA)  

Cody Wills (Harrisburg, Pa.) delivered a strong ride in the Men’s H2, finishing fifth on a challenging course over 46.6 kilometers. Wills stayed aggressive from the start, leading the pack early before settling into seventh midway through the race. He then linked up with Israel’s Tomer Hasdai, working together to regain ground before eventually pulling away. Riding most of the final lap solo, he was determined to time trial his way through to secure fifth place at the line.  

1. Florian Jouanny (FRA)  

2. Sergio Garrote Munox (ESP)  

3. Luca Mazzone (ITA) 

5. Cody Wills (USA) 

From the opening lap of the H1 road race, Barry Wilcox (Port Angeles, Wash.) set the pace at the front and went head-to-head with Italy’s Fabrizio Cornegliani. After 46.6 kilometers of racing, he finished in second place, bettering his result from the Time Trial earlier in the week.  

Reflecting on his performance, Wilcox said, “It’s awesome, because it’s a big move up from last year, and definitely from two days ago when I was flat as a pancake [in the Time Trial]. I’m very happy with the result.” 

On his battle with Cornegliani, he added, “Fabrizio is fast. I was just trying to hang with him as long as I could. He’s a much faster, stronger rider, so whatever I could do to reap the benefits of riding with him and create separation from the riders behind me, I did.” 

1. Fabrizio Cornegliani (ITA)  

2. Barry Wilcox (USA) 

3. Nicolas Pieter Du Preez (RSA)  

Emelia Perry (Philadelphia) put on a show in the Women’s H4 road race. Switzerland’s Sandra Fuhrer got an early lead, with Perry part of the chase group on the first lap. She joined forces with Austria’s Svetlana Moshkovich to close the gap, eventually dropping Moshkovich and catching Fuhrer at the end of the second lap. Perry surged past Fuhrer at the start of the final lap to position herself perfectly for the technical sections coming out of town but ultimately finished second as Fuhrer proved too strong on the hills. 

Reflecting on the race, Perry said, “I was catching up to her and pushing pretty hard, and then on the start of the third lap, I wanted to be ahead to make sure I was taking the line I wanted. Once the hill started, I just didn’t have it anymore, but I’m so excited and surprised I was able to get silver in my first year of cycling.” 

1. Sandra Fuhrer (SUI) 

2. Emelia Perry (USA)  

3. Svetlana Moshkovich (AUT) 

Dennis Connors (Beaverton, Ore.) started the Men’s T2 strong, leading the peloton through the first turn. Unfortunately, a crash early in the opening lap forced him to withdraw from the race, bringing his day to an early close. 

1. Tim Celen (BEL)  

2. Wolfgang Steinbichler (AUT) 

3. Felix Barrow (GBR) 

DNF.  Dennis Connors (USA)  

Ellie Kennedy (Boise, Idaho) stayed with the combined T1-T2 peloton through the first lap. When the field split on the second lap, Kennedy fell behind but fought hard to maintain her position, ultimately finishing fifth. She crossed the line 2:08 behind the Swiss winner and just one minute off the podium. 

1. Celine Van Till (SUI)  

2. Rita Malinkiewicz (POL) 

3. Angelika Dreock-Kaser (GER)  

5. Ellie Kennedy (USA)  

USA Cycling’s participation in the World Championships is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. To support the USA Cycling National Team, members can donate to the USA Cycling Foundation here. USA Cycling's supporting partner for this event includes HOVERAir, who shares our mission to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of cyclists.