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Raluca Bragarea

Head of Communications, Bucharest

Part of UK in Romania

21st March 2012 Bucharest, Romania

World Champion now also at the veladrome!

Eduárd Novák (36 yrs old) , cyclist from the Tusnad Cycling Team, Miercuri Ciuc, Romania has become world champion for the third time, after he took gold in the 4 km pursuit race at the veladrome, at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles.

Eduárd Novák, Para-cycling Track World Championship
Eduárd Novák, Romanian Para-cycling Track World Championship

Eduárd succeeded in defeating the Czech rider Jiri Jezek, the world record holder in the final, by 3 seconds. Eduárd completed a perfect race and said that this success gives him confidence that he will become Olympic champion at the Paralympic Games in London.

“I’m very happy with this result and for this outstanding performance. In the qualifying round I was 1.6 seconds slower, but in the final I managed to win, which gives me the confidence for London. The time was not the fastest because it is a very tough track and many cyclists failed because of their tactics and choosing the wrong gears”, declared Novák.

Eduárd completed the race in 04:47.9270, followed by the Czech Jiri Jezek in 04:50.8520 and the British cyclist Jody Cundy in the third place. He also won the bronze medal in Los Angeles for the 1km pursuit race.

Eduárd Novák remains the best hope for a gold medal for the Romanian paralympic team in London this year, both at the road race where he is currently world champion (2011, Denmark, World Championship) and now at the veladrome. In Beijing he won the silver medal at the Road Race and two 4th places at the veladrome.

A blog by Sally Wood Lamont
President of the Romanian National Paralympic Committee

About Raluca Bragarea

I joined the British Embassy in 2004, and have ever since enjoyed one of the most diverse and challenging jobs as a professional communicator, from partnering up with MTV Romania…

I joined the British Embassy in 2004, and have ever since
enjoyed one of the most diverse and challenging jobs as a professional
communicator, from partnering up with MTV Romania to promote the UN
anti-poverty agenda to handling Prince Charles’ press conference on a
hill top in picturesque Transylvania. One of the highlights working for
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been the introduction of an
internship scheme in the Embassy; we bring along students from various
backgrounds to help us deliver our objectives while they get a unique
opportunity to learn hands-on about diplomacy.
I am a former TV journalist, specialising in foreign affairs, and a
Fulbright scholar. I hold a Master of Arts in Information and
Communication Studies with California State University at Chico.
I am a major cafe latte fan and like to collect hand-painted icons.
My other hobbies include travelling and watching movies with friends,
particularly Quentin Tarantino’s. The latest memorable film I watched
was District 9, a superb science fiction with a social twist – anybody
seen it?

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