Apeldoorn 2019: Sensational Sarah Storey

Cycling legend claims double gold on day three of Worlds 17 Mar 2019
Imagen
female Para cyclist Sarah Storey stands on the podium with a gold medal around her neck

Sarah Storey thrilled the crowds to win double gold on day three of Apeldoorn 2019

ⒸUCI
By UCI and IPC

Great Britain’s most decorated Paralympian, Sarah Storey, turned in a sparkling performance to pick up not one but two golds on the penultimate day of the Para Cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

It was a dominant day for the Brits, who finished Saturday with four world titles and two silver medals.

But the star was Storey, who began her golden day with victory in the women’s 3km individual pursuit C5. She easily caught silver medallist Anna Harkowska of Poland, with the bronze going to USA’s Samantha Bosco.

After a session break she returned to the track to blow the competition away in the final race of the day, the women’s scratch C5. Storey lapped the entire field twice on her way to her second world title of the day. Compatriot Crystal Lane-Wright won silver, while US cyclist Samantha Bosco took bronze.

“It feels really good to be back in the competition. I raced here four years ago, so the same distance in time in between Rio and Tokyo. I’ve raced great times both in the pursuit qualifiers and in the finals, and I’ve felt even better in the scratch. Having that race element in the scratch bring out the kid in me, I suppose,” said Storey.

Gold rush

Team GB’s gold rush continued in the women’s 1km time trial B, as world record holders Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott confirmed their leadership in the discipline, comfortably defending their title. Silver went to Netherlands’ Larissa Klaassen and Imke Brommer while bronze was awarded to New Zealand’s duo Emma Foy and Hannah Van Kampen.

Great Britain then claimed gold and silver in the men’s equivalent, with the duo of James Ball and Peter Mitchell winning the title ahead of world record holders Matthew Rotherham and Neil Fachie. Bronze went to Netherlands with Tristan Bangma and Patrick Bos.

After the race, an emotional James Ball was caught on camera: “I can't believe it... we've worked so hard for that... I'm so happy.”

The country’s other silver came in the men’s 4km individual pursuit C4, where George Peasgood was bested by Slovakian Jozef Metelka.

World record win

There was one world record celebrated in the velodrome on Saturday, as Australia’s Emily Petricola stormed to victory in the women’s 3km individual pursuit C4, breaking the record she had set in qualification by almost 10 seconds.

Her compatriot Alistair Donohoe took the gold in the men’s 4km individual pursuit C5, where he caught silver medallist Yehor Dementyev of Ukraine after just 1,500m of racing.

Spain’s Ricardo Ten won his second gold of the Worlds in the men’s scratch C1, while Canada’s Tristen Chernove claimed a closely-fought win in the C2.

The Track Worlds conclude on Sunday, with full results available on the UCI website.