Milton 2020: Ricardo Ten Argilés shines on day 3

Spain celebrate golds as Sarah Storey secures her 35th world title 02 Feb 2020
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Spaniard Ricardo Ten Argilés competing on the track
Spanish cyclist Ricardo Ten Argilés
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By UCI

Spanish men stood out on the third dar of the 2020 Para Cycling Track World Championships as Ricardo Ten Argilés victory in the scratch C1 was followed by Maurice Far Eckhard Tio’s win in the scratch C2.

Ten Argilés took on one of the longest events at the Worlds – the 15km scratch race C1 -, taking the title in the event and also concluding victory in the omnium C1, adding another rainbow jersey to his growing collection.

The 44-year-old is no ordinary person. As a child he was involved in an accident with a high-voltage power line, resulting in the loss of both arms and his left leg below the knee. Forging his athletic career has shown formidable focus and determination.

After a highly successful career as a swimming Paralympic champion, he moved to cycling at the end of the 2017 season where he quickly established himself as the man to beat in the C1 category.

FULL POWER ON THE TANDEMS

In the women’s time trial B, Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall suffered a mechanical issue at their start. A pedal clip broke and they had to get quick fix from mechanic, with an old-fashioned toe-strap holding Fachie’s left foot onto the pedal. 

But it was the other British interest, Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott, who took gold, just missing their own world record time. 

Mechanical issues similarly affected the New Zealand, Japanese and Greek riders at the start of their heats in the men’s time trial B final. Ultimately it was Lora Fachie’s husband Neil Fachie (and pilot Matthew Rotherham) who took gold in a British 1-2, with James Ball (and pilot Lewis Stewart) in silver medal position.

COMPATRIOT HEAD-TO-HEADS

In the women’s individual pursuit, riders from the same country went head-to-head in consecutive gold finals. 

In the C4 category, Australian Emily Petricola retained her world title by beating her countrywoman Meg Lemon who stepped up from the bronze medal position she held in the previous two years to secure silver.

In the C5 category, two experienced British women took to the track. It was Sarah Storey – having qualified fastest – who overhauled Crystal Lane-Wright at half distance, and in doing so claimed her 33rd world title.

Storey ended the day by taking another victory in the scratch C5, also concluding the omnium win to total 35 titles.

Full results are available on UCI’s website