Zanardi Adds More Paralympic Gold

Alex Zanardi won his second Paralympic gold of the London Games with victory in the handcycling road race at Brands Hatch.

The ex-Formula 1 driver, who lost both legs following a crash in 2001, won the H4 handcycling time trial on Wednesday.

And the 45-year-old followed it up with a sprint finish to take the road race ahead of South Africa's Ernst van Dyk and Belgian Wim Decleir.

Zanardi had both legs amputated following a Cart accident in Germany.

"To win this race in this way, in such a dramatic way and sprinting makes me really proud," Zanardi said.

"It shows that I am a complete cyclist, even if I have no legs.

"The race did not go as I expected. I thought that I could take off soon and that I would only need to stay calm, but at the fourth lap I tested my opponents and understood my tactic would not work, so I changed it completely and only tried to save, save and save.

"I managed my energies well. It's been a tough race, I could have very well lost it."

Last year Zanardi won the New York marathon at the fourth attempt and also claimed world time trial silver.

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Zanardi Takes Pole at Brands Hatch

Former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi tasted victory of a different kind at Brands Hatch as he took gold in the H4 hand-cycle time-trial.

The 45-year-old Italian's time of 24 minutes 50.22 seconds over the 16km course was enough to beat Germany's Norbert Mosandl.

Zanardi, a former F1 pilot for Minardi and Lotus who also drove in Indy and touring car races, was critically injured and had to have both legs amputated after a horror smash in 2001.

Competed

He battled back into sport, even competing in a touring car race at Brands Hatch in a specially-adapted car with hand controls before turning his attention to hand-cycling, winning the category at the New York Marathon last year.

"Last time I was here I was going about five times faster but I still love this circuit!" Zanardi said.

There was also a hand-cycle gold for Ireland in the H1 category where favourite - and Sky Sports Scholar - Mark Rohan beat Israel's Koby Lion by nearly 12 seconds.

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