A roasting hot day 2 of the Time Trials at the World Disability Championships in France saw two Great Britain riders win medals, one a Gold to David Stone and a Bronze for Darren Kenny.

Riders relax waiting for the Podium presentations.

Mens CP2 (Trikes)

Defending champion from Great Britain, David Stone, was yet again crowned champion have an awesome ride against a much improved field from previous years. After a few days with the team preparing on the course with coach Gary Brickley, its been a mixed lead up to today’s test.

David crashed two days ago when ‘larging it up’ on a twisty big descent which is only just wide enough for two cars. “It’s not ideal for trikes” says manager Dave Mellor “with cambers high in the middle and sloping down sharply at the sides and at the side of the road worse still, a big drop off into ditches and the vine yards. So it’s quite tricky for trikes.”

David in action followed by the Team car and right, a spare trike on the roof.

“Following David today, his speed was brilliant, as was his cadence but he was very wobbly as the road is rough. A perfect ride though on this course.”

The race gave the team a chance to compare his old tandem from last year with a new one from Longstaffs he is using for the road  race. “The new one has a aluminium differential so it drives both wheels where as the trike he was on today only drives on one wheel.”

David’s win last year and again this year means he’s quite a celebrity at the Paralympic meetings with lots of people wanting to talk to him and looking at his bikes. His win last year also meant that he was expected to win and because of that, David has adapted his lifestyle to that of an Elite athlete in terms of diet and sleeping etc. “He’s a changed guy and taken to the Elite lifestyle which is really good”.

1. STONE David, GBR 17:51.92
2. WINTERLEITNER, Helmut AUT 18:46.64
3. OGAWA Mutsuhiko, JPN 19:38.15

Left: Coach Gary Brickley with David Stone, right, David in action.

Mens CP3 19.8km

A disappointed Darren Kenny was third this year after getting Silver in 2006. The world champion from the track finished  behind the very strong Spaniards led by Tour de France hero Javier Ochoa. Asked to describe the ride, manage Dave Mellor explained that “Darren’s ride was good. If you look at the time he did, he was faster than Gary Williams did the day before. So it was an awesome ride and he’s riding above his ability group  but he is up against a guy who is really brilliant in Ochoa.”

The manager then said it is probably similar situation to the other able bodied GB teams where the GB riders will train well for the track, do well and then get a kicking on the road whereas the Spaniards who have a strong culture on the road, are probably doing the reverse. “We need to look at that” Mellor added.  “It was a brilliant time, the line was great, great bike handling, good cadence, an absolutely fantastic ride but he was beaten by a faster rider on the day.”

1. OCHOA Javier ESP, 28:20.43
2. ECKHARD Maurice ESP, 28:57.83
3. KENNY Darren GBR, 29:22.79
4. QUEVILLON Jean, CAN 30:53.93
5. REUS Oscar, ESP 30:54.28
6. WADDON Richard, GBR 32:04.59

Women B VI (Tandem), 19.8 km

With pilot Rebecca Rimmington having an ear problem, it was unknown if she and her stoker, Mel Easter would ride. “We had a chat last night with the tem and Mel didn’t want Becks to put herself into the state she did on the track and Becks replied, I am okay and after a test I’ll tell you whether it is a goer or not”.

They did  lap to warm-up and came back to the start all smiles and said its on, lets go for it. Fourth again is very disappointing for them their manager explained, adding “we followed their tandem and when we finished, mechanic Spike (Peter Taylor) said that was amazing. The descent which is steep and with lots of corners, they went through the first time right on the limit and the second time, I told them to back off as they were bound to be a little tired and going downhill you don’t need to charge into a tight corner”.

“They finished really well and their cadence today was first class, pedalling rather than pushing a big gear, and were only 30 seconds odd away from a medal. If their preparation had been better, who knows.”

1. FIADOTOVA/DRAZDOVA, BLR 27:13.26
2. COLUZZI/TROLDI, ITA 28:03.82
3. HOU/GALLAGHER, AUS 28:39.79
4. EASTER/RIMMINGTON, GBR 29:00.62

Mens B IV (Tandem)
1. VENGE LLAURADO ESP 36:21.80
2. BLANCO MORALES ESP 37:21.42
3. MODRA LAWRWENCE AUS 37:54.03

26. DAWSON/ DE'ATH GBR 00:41:36.67