The Great Britain Cycling Team made a sensational start to the Manchester Para-cycling International, picking up three gold, one silver and three bronze medals on the opening night.
World champions Matt Rotherham and James Ball produced a stunning ride to narrowly pip their team-mates Peter Mitchell and Neil Fachie to gold in the B 1km Time Trial, ensuring a sensational British one-two.
Adam Duggleby and Stephen Bate narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth behind the Dutch pairing of Patrick Bos and Tristan Bangma.
Sophie Thornhill and Helen Scott enjoyed a similarly successful night in the women’s tandem kilo, easing to gold in 1:06.457 in their first competitive ride together since winning Paralympic gold in Rio, while Corrine Hall and Lora Fachie took bronze with 1:11.842.
Speaking after their victory, Scott said:
“It’s amazing, riding with Soph is just like being at home. We’ve been riding together for a few years now and it’s nice to be back riding fast together.
“This is our home track and we’re used to having nobody but just our coach in the stands, so to have friends and family here supporting us makes such a difference when we get out of that start gate.”
Thornhill added:
“To go only two tenths slower than Rio is a great confidence boost going in to the worlds next year. We’re really chuffed and we’re in a great place moving forwards.”
Jody Cundy was in typically formidable form in the men’s C4-5 1km Time Trial, securing gold with an impeccable ride, while Jon Gildea took home the bronze.
Louis Rolfe had earlier got the Great Britain Cycling Team off to a flying start, taking the bronze medal in the C1-3 1km Time Trial with a time of 1:13.409, behind Spain’s Eduardo Santas Asensio and Belgium’s Kris Bosmans who claimed gold and silver respectively.
In the same event Great Britain’s Dave Smith finished 13th as he made his competitive return to the track, while Ben Watson finished 7th.
