Para cycling Track Worlds come to a close

Joseph Berenyi won two golds on the last day of competition (5 March) on home soil in Los Angeles, including USA’s first gold ever in the men’s team sprint event. 06 Mar 2017

Joseph Berenyi of USA competes in the Men's C1-2-3 1000m Time Trial Track Cycling at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Joe Berenyi is a four-time Paralympic champion

ⒸGetty Images

By UCI

“Going up against your teammates in the final definitely adds a lot of pressure!”

USA’s Joseph Berenyi was the star on Sunday (5 March), the last day of competition at the UCI Para cycling Track World Championships in Los Angeles, claiming double gold in the men’s team sprint and the scratch C1-C2-C3 events on home soil.

Together with Jason Kimball and Christopher Murphy, the 48-year-old clocked 50.654 seconds in the former to secure his first gold of the day and USA’s first world title ever in this event.

“The team sprint was my priority today. After that win, I just stayed focused as much as possible on the scratch event,” said Berenyi.

In his last race, the US Para cyclist crossed the finish line ahead of Spain’s Eduardo Santas Asensio and Australia’s David Nicholas.

“I wanted to race smart. I was disappointed with my performance in the scratch race last year, but I worked hard and tonight (Sunday) it paid off,” he said.

British cyclist Jonathan Gildea successfully defended his world title in the men’s scratch C4-C5, followed by Australia’s two-time Rio 2016 silver medallist Alistair Donohoe and Brazil’s Lauro Cesar Chaman.

Great Britain also landed gold in the men’s sprint B through James Ball and pilot Matthew Rottherham. Compatriots Neil Fachie and pilot Craig Maclean claimed silver and Malaysia’s Muhammad Afiq Afify and Muhammad Rasol Kahirul Adha collected bronze.

“Going up against your teammates in the final definitely adds a lot of pressure!” said Ball.

The women’s final also featured a showdown between two British duos, as Sophie Thornhill and pilot Corrine Hall stormed to gold ahead of their teammates Alison Patrick and pilot Helen Scott.

“It has only been seven weeks that we are together on the bike, but she is an incredible pilot. It is good for me to have a strong pilot up front,” said Thornhill.

Aileen McGlynn and pilot Louise Haston grabbed bronze for an all-British podium.

The USA finished as the most decorated nation of the Worlds with 18 medals overall, including 12 golds, three silvers and three bronzes.

Full story can be found on UCI’s website.