Canyon Lake para-cyclist takes fifth
Canyon Lake’s Michael Davis didn’t let a significant crash at the Individual Time Trials event on Day 1 hinder his road race the following day in the Québec City 2022 UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup last week. Michael dusted himself off, had his bike repaired and road to a fifth place finish in the Individual Road Race – Tricycle 2 – Men Elite event.
His crash occurred on Day 1 of the competition. He was the first rider on the first race from any of the countries to start and it was on the second turn where he crashed. It took Michael’s support team over 15 minutes to get him up and running again.
“In that crash, I shredded my rear tire, popped two of my tubes and sustained minor damage to my rear wheel,” he said. “I was way too hyped up for the time trial and I took that corner way too fast and wiped out good. Thanks to God, I didn’t even get a scratch on me, I just tore up my trike.”
Photo provided by Michael Davis
Michael didn’t let the crash deter him from getting up and finishing the race, where he understandably finished in last place.
The following day was a separate event, the Individual Road Race. He said he prayed for calm nerves and he was going to use the team relaxation advisor to make sure he “had his head on his shoulders with a clear mind.”
Michael trailed most of the race, but on the last lap went from 9th place to 5th place out of the 14 competitors.
“Because I was faster on the hills – thank you Canyon Lake for our hills – I made up time. I was also faster on the corner,” he said. “I went back and forth with Japan for more than half the race, then we caught up with Canada and rode together with them on the last lap. I was able to pass Australia and Spain with ease to finish in fifth place.”
Photo provided by Michael Davis
Michael raced against 14 trike riders from 13 countries and only got passed by three of those countries in his first time competing at the World Cup.
“In the last lap, I went from 9th to 5th and I was ahead of 6th place by nearly thirty seconds,” he said. “I have only 2:39 to drop for a 21.9 mile in order to get first place next year. My coach agrees that this is very doable. I only need to improve by 7.26 seconds per mile to tie and 8 seconds to beat.”
Michael said he is proud of his first year of racing and is looking forward to improving in the future.
Photo provided by Michael Davis
“This was an amazing first year and I’m very eager to progress, because I know I’ll be faster next year, with God’s grace,” he said. “I’m also thankful to have my beautiful wife Beatriz and four amazing kids Michael, Amalia, William and Ezequiel supporting me too, because they’ve been steadfast in their support for my training.”
The trike Michael rides is unique in that it has two front wheels. He thinks this will be the last year that he will be the only one in these races with such a bike.
“I was so grateful to the other countries there competing for stopping by Team USA’s tent to take pictures and ask questions about me and my trike,” he said.
Photo provided by Michael Davis
“I think this is going to be the last year that I’m the only one with a two-front-wheel trike competing.”
Michael is a wounded warrior and served in the United States Navy as part of a bomb squad. He was medically retired after being in a motor vehicle accident while on active duty where he suffered major injuries. He broke his neck in four places, broke every bone in his left arm and broke six inches of bone in his right leg.
Michael spent two years in rehabilitation, one year of which was during his stay in the hospital.