Golds galore proves perfect preparation for the Paralympics
MANCHESTER’S medal factory was at it again at the weekend as Great Britain brought home a host of gold medals from the UCI Paracycling Track World Championships in Canada.
Stockport’s Sophie Thornhill claimed an amazing 12th and 13th world title as she took gold with Helen Scott in the tandem sprint to make it a hat-trick of titles in that event in the last three years.
Earlier in the week former Poynton High School pupil Thornhill, 23, and Scott were just three tenths of a second outside their own world record as they retained their kilo crown.
It was perfect preparation ahead of this summer’s Paralympic Games.
“I think I’m going to cry,” said Thornhill. “We’re really chuffed – just over the moon to defend it and to break our Paralympic year world championships curse as well!”
Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey, from Disley, added three world titles to her collection all on one day.
In the WC5 individual pursuit, she defeated teammate Crystal Lane-Wright in the final, after the British duo had recorded the two fastest qualifying times.
The two also contested the scratch race, which was the final event of the four-race omnium, which Storey led following her victories in the pursuit and the flying 200m.
In the scratch, Storey took a lap on the field midway through the 40-lap event, while Lane-Wright attacked late, ensuring that she comfortably won the race for silver and secured another British one-two.
The victory represented the 37th world title of Storey’s career, and it rubber-stamped the 38th – the omnium.
In what is her 20th career World Championships across swimming and cycling, the three golds took the 42-year-old Mancunian’s overall collection of world championship medals to 60.
“When I realised earlier in the week that this was my 20th world championships, I couldn’t believe it, then when we talked about the medals it was a bit ‘wow’,” said Storey.
“It feels amazing – to win three in one day is just a bit of a dream to be honest.
“I never thought it would happen.
“I’m really pleased with my form and the work I’ve been doing – I’m delighted.”
Sale’s Jon Gildea claimed bronze in the MC5 pursuit, recording a personal best in his qualifying ride.
In the bronze medal final he clocked 4:31.519 to defeat Ukraine’s Yehor Dementyev.
“I’m really happy with that,” he said. “It would have been fantastic to win, but this is the happiest I’ve ever been with a medal.”
In all, Team GB - which is based at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre – brought home 11 golds, eight silver and two bronze.