US-based kiwi Paralympian Rory Mead has finished fourth in the men’s H2 (handcycle) time trial on the opening day of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Belgium.

Early morning rain cleared to fine conditions for the 11.6km test against the clock in Ronse, a city in East Flanders in the heart of the Flemish cycling scene.

Mead produced a well-structured race, going through the 6km time check in 9:57, 52s down on winner Jouanny Florian (FRA), who won his third individual world title and is a two-time Paralympic gold medallist.

The kiwi, who is based in Ohio, has a slightly stronger second split to finish in 20:23.29, to be 1:42 down on the winner with an average speed over 34kph. He was 1:12 off third placed Italian legend and 10-time Paralympic world medallist, Luca Mazzone but 28 seconds clear of fifth placed Cody Wills (USA).

“I am pretty satisfied with that. I have done a lot of work and mileage to get stronger and faster,” said Mead.

“I came here to get closer to those fast guys and I have done that. I am getting closer-and-closer to them and that is the important thing.

“The big guns were firing today as I expected but I held things together quite well. I found it quite hard to tap into overdrive and may be could have gone a little harder but overall that was a satisfying result.

“The key is to get some good recovery now and get ready for the road race.”

Teammate Nicole Murray, the Paris Paralympic medallist on the track, returns to the road for her time trial in the C5 category, with mead in the road race on Sunday (NZT) with Murray on Monday (NZT).

Results: Men H2 Time Trial 11.6km: Florian Jouanny (FRA) 18:41.21, 1; Sergio Garrote (ESP) 19:08.45, 2; Munoz Luca Mazzone (ITA) 19:11.20, 3; Rory Mead (NZL) 20:23.29, 4.