The first session of the Manchester Para-Cycling International was a record breaking one for the Great Britain Cycling Team, with Neil Fachie and his pilot Matt Rotherham setting a new World Record subject to ratification.
The World Champion pairing stormed to victory in the Male B tandem category ahead of fellow Great Britain pair, James Ball and Pete Mitchell.
Their time was recorded as 59.422, but without anti-doping present at the event it will not be officially eligible to dethrone the previous time set by Neil Fachie and Pete Mitchell.
In the first event of the evening young prospect Finlay Graham took victory with a new Personal Best time in the C1-3 1km Time Trial. Sophie Thornhill and her pilot Helen Scott continued their dominance of the Women’s B tandem, whilst rival British pairing Lora Fachie and Corrine Hall rounded out the podium in bronze position.
Jody Cundy OBE made it a clean sweep for the Great Britain Cycling Team by taking the C4-5 1km Time Trial an event in which he has been unbeaten in over a decade. Jon Gildea put in a strong 1km TT to take bronze.
With many of the world’s top para-cyclists in attendance the Manchester Para-Cycling International marks an important date on the calendar, both in preparation for the upcoming World Championships and for athletes to gain qualification points towards the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
Racing continues tomorrow at 1pm at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.
