Click here to see video of the race.

Cedartown’s Krige Schabort placed second in the Boston Marathon wheelchair race Monday and still had enough left to win Tuesday’s Tour de Georgia handcycling event in Rome.

Schabort finished at 25.35.9, beating Oscar Sanchez of San Diego, Calif., who finished in 25.36.4. Schabort also won the race last year.

He finished second in Wednesday's handcycling event.

“This feels good — it’s always best to win in your hometown,” said Schabort, who’s originally from Cape Town, South Africa. “I really wanted to win, and I really appreciate Rome putting on the event.”

This is the second year Rome has hosted an official handcycling event in connection with the Tour de Georgia.

In 2005, a handcycling exhibition was seen, and 2006 was the first competition.

Handcycles are essentially reverse bicycles. Instead of pedaling with the feet, contestants use chest high handles, and the seats are much lower to the ground.

This year, the event was sanctioned by the U.S. Handcycling Federation.

“We sanctioned this because what we’re trying to do is … blur the lines between able-bodied and disabled, and this event is such a big event in the world — what better type of event to put athletes in,” said Ian Lawless, president of USHF, who was in Rome for Tuesday’s event. “It’s putting them in front of the same crowd in a caliber of event that is a tremendous opportunity for every cyclist who takes the sport seriously.”

The event drew the attention of Monique Van der Vorst, the three-time female world champion, who’s been racing since 1999 after she fell in love with the sport while in rehab.

Before the race, she was looking forward to see how she compares with men as the only female in the race.

“It’s nice to race in the U.S. because in international events they keep men and women separated,” she said. “It’s a challenge, and it’s great to beat men especially because I’m small.” She finished fifth out of 20.

The handcyclers will compete today in a 21-mile race that kicks off at Darlington School at 12:15 p.m. with a handcycling race at 11 a.m.

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