In her first international competition for nine months, Paris Paralympic track medallist, Nicole Murray finished fifth in her road time trial at the UCI Para-cycling World Cup in Belgium.

Racing in the C5 category time trial over 22km of the coastal course in Ostend, the 32-year-old from Waikato finished 2:06 down on winner, Australian Alana Forster, the Paris Paralympic bronze medallist in this event.

Forster, a world medallist on the road over the last two years and track world champion, won in 31:53.180, nearly a minute clear of Germany’s Kerstin Brachtendorf, a double world champion. Poland’s Anna Harkowska, who has four Paralympic medals, was third with Murray fifth 2:06 back.

The kiwi was fifth fastest, 43 seconds down on the leader after the first lap; 47s down in sixth after lap two but finished strongly to move up to fifth, 2:06 behind the winner.

“For my first international race since taking a lengthy break after the Paralympics, finishing fifth in the time trial was a little disappointing but it is also realistic given where I am with my fitness,” said Murray.

“It’s been great to return for this World Cup and see the competition growing, with some really strong new riders popping up across different categories. I’m looking forward to seeing how these riders shake things up in the road race in two days.”

Action moves to the road race to staged circuit course in Bruges, with Rory Mead competing in the MH2 category over 46.6km (4 laps) on Saturday late evening NZT, with Murray, the hand amputee, racing in WC5 over 58.3kms (five laps) of same course on Sunday overnight (NZT)

Result: Women’s C5 Time Trial, 21.9km: Alana Forster (AUS) 31:53.180, 1; Kerstin Brachtendorf (GER) at 56.012s, 2; Anna Harkowska (Pol) at 59.277, 3. Also: Nicole Murray (NZL) at 2:06.164, 5.