Today British Cycling confirmed the team of riders who will represent the Great Britain Cycling Team in the C1 para-cycling event at the forthcoming TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup, which takes place at the Lee Valley VeloPark from the 14th – 16th December.
Scottish athlete Neil Fachie piloted by Matt Rotherham (MB) will compete in the Tandem Match Sprint. Neil and Matt won gold in both Time Trial and Sprint events at Gold Coast 2018, setting World and Games records in Sprint qualifying and a Games record in the Time Trial. Neil made it a ‘double double’, having also won gold in both events at Glasgow 2014 with pilot Craig MacLean.
Newcomer to the GBCT podium potential programme is Fin Graham who has recently shown great promise winning his event at the Ghent 6 Day this week. He will compete in the 1km Time Trial.
Performance director Stephen Park OBE said: “The para-cycling squad we are entering into the C1 competition during the world cup looks strong, with some real medal prospects across the events.
“The achievements of the Paralympians speak for themselves, but there’s also a lot of talent amongst the other riders too. We’ve seen the tandem pairings of Neil and Matt plus James and Pete win medals on the world stage, Ben Watson and Will Bjergfelt put in some podium performances at road world cups this season, and John Gildea won silver at the para-cycling track world championship earlier this year.
“Fin Graham and Matt Robertson recently joined our podium potential programme, so I’m particularly looking forward to watching these two development riders make their debut representing Great Britain on the track.
“Para-cycling is a key part of the Great Britain Cycling Team, and indeed British Cycling, so it’s brilliant to see we are leading the way in including para-cycling events in high-profile competitions in this country and it’s fantastic for our riders to have this opportunity to showcase their talent and their sport.”
Great Britain Cycling Team Para-cycling Squad for TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup, London (14th – 16th December):
Women
Kadeena Cox (WC4) – 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint
Megan Giglia (WC3) – 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint
Dame Sarah Storey (WC5) – 500m Time Trial and Team Sprint
Sophie Thornhill piloted by Helen Scott (WB) – Tandem Match Sprint
Men
James Ball piloted by Pete Mitchell (MB) - Tandem Match Sprint
Will Bjergfelt (MC5) – 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint
Jon-Allan Butterworth (MC5) – Team Sprint
Jody Cundy (MC4) – 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint
Neil Fachie piloted by Matt Rotherham (MB) - Tandem Match Sprint
Jon Gildea (MC5) – 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint
Finlay Graham (MC3) – 1km Time Trial
Matthew Robertson (MC2) – 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint
Louis Rolfe (MC2) – 1km Time Trial and Team Sprint
Ben Watson (MC3) – 1km Time Trial
More information on the TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup, London, can be found here.
