By Duncan Mackay

Jiri Jezek London 2012May 30 - Six-time Paralympic champion Jiri Jezek is to be given a unique opportunity to showcase his abilities when he appears as a forerider at the Tour de France. 


The role of the rider from the Czech Republic will be to set the base time for the 11th stage of the 100th Tour de France, a 33 kilometres time trial between Avranches and Mont-Sant-Michel on July 10.

"I have always dreamt of climbing up the time trial ramp in a race as prestigious as the Tour de France," said Jezek.

"I want to show everyone that handicapped people can live an active life and manage tasks they didn't even dream of accomplishing when the accident or disease struck."

Jezek, 38, started his cycling career in 1994, nine years after he had lost his right leg below the knee in a car crash.

He has won six paralympic gold medals at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, where he won the time trial gold.

"I'm very curious to see the difference between myself and the best professionals, whether my handicap will play a role, because the other conditions will be the same for everyone," Jezek said.

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