Katie-George Dunlevy continues to dominate World cycling

After winning both the Time Trial and the Road Race at the World Paracyling Championships at the weekend, Katie-George Dunlevy has underlined her position as one of the top sportswomen of her era.

The paracyclist with the strong Donegal connections was doing the double for the fifth time. She won the time trial and road race World Cup with Eve McChrystal in 2017 and 2018 and last weekend was the third year in-a-row with new tandem partner Linda Kelly. Indeed, it was the fourth year in-a-row that Katie-George had won gold in the road race as she won it in 2022 with McChrystal.

It is a domination of the sport that is remarkable and on Sunday many of her family, including her father Mountcharles-native John Dunlevy, were present in Ronse in Belgium to witness more history being achieved.

While the winning margin was clear in the end, the road race was not straightforward with three stops due to mechanical issues with a chain and a puncture. But in the end it made the victory even sweeter for Katie-George and Linda.

“Incredible. We were thrilled. I think it was one of the toughest because of the course itself and the issues that we had, having to stop three times in the race,” said Katie-George.

“When the chain came off and we were at the side of the road the Polish bike went past us and we were chasing again.”

That happened three times. “It was a really attritional ride and then the nature of the course and with the mechanical issues, it made it even more challenging. We hardly had time to take drinks but it made it exciting for everyone watching,” laughs Katie-George.

“Then to win it like that with us racing along with the male tandems and the road was slippy; but as Linda said we are fighters and we had trained really hard since Paris and after the time trial we knew we were in good form.

“But you never really know what will happen in a road race, some of it is out of your control.”


Linda Kelly and Katie-George Dunlevy in action in Belgium

Two days earlier on Friday the Irish pair were first home in the time trial which was much more stress free.

“I tried to go into it and not be stressed. It was a year after Paris and we had nothing to prove. Because this year is not as important as the years coming up, leading to LA (Paralympics in 2028). There are no points on offer in these races so it is a bit more relaxing and sort of a time out. But you still have nerves going into it. But you know, nerves are good.

“But once you get off that ramp, you think of what you have done in preparing for it and you use your experience,” said Katie-George, who agreed that winning the time trial gave her confidence going into the road race on Sunday.

“It was close in the time trial. It was a short distance but it was close between us and the Great Britain girls. We had a good day and looking at our numbers afterwards we paced it really well and if it had been another lap we could have done it.

“It definitely helps your confidence going into the road race because you have won a gold medal.”

Katie-George and Linda have had great battles over the past few years with British pair Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl but on Sunday, it was the Polish team who were the biggest threat.

“A little bit surprised. They medalled three years ago in Dumfries; they were second in that,” said Katie-George. “GB weren’t as strong as they were in the past but they will come back with a bang next year.”

Dunlevy also felt that it was good to have the Polish team in the mix as it makes for greater competition on the road.

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The season is not over yet for Katie-George and Linda with the New Ross native, Kelly, involved in a five-stage cycle race in the South East this week.

“We will be back on the bike at the end of September in Waterford as we will be taking part in a 50k Tour de France Sportif. That will be the last competition of the year and I hope to make my plans for next year in the next month or so,” said Dunlevy.

Katie-George is hoping to have some down time with family also and was very happy to have a good number of family in Belgium at the weekend. “The event at the weekend was very well organised, probably one of the best ever World championships I’ve been to. It was great that it was featured on television and long may that continue.”