2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships: three world records

World records for 200m flying start and 500m time trial

Competition was fierce in the velodrome in Rio de Janeiro’s Barra Olympic and Paralympic Park on day two of the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships. New world records were set, and home Brazilian riders were amongst the medal-winners in the individual pursuit and 500m time trial.

Two of the world records set in Brazil on Thursday were in the 200m flying start, which counts for the overall ranking of the omnium. This speciality sees riders individually complete three laps of the track, building up their pace until the last – timed - 200m.

Omnium 200m flying start world records

One of the world records in this specialty was set by New Zealand’s Devon Briggs (MC3) who rode at 65.940km/h to set the fastest time in history (10.919 secs) in the category.

China’s Zhangyu Li achieved a similar feat in the MC1 200m flying start, setting a world record of 11.641 secs (61.850km/h). Soon afterwards his team-mate Weicong Liang registered a time of 11.968-sec, which would have been a world record only 10 minutes earlier but meant 2nd place on the day.

MC5 4km individual pursuit: Silver for Mouro Chaman

The gold medal race saw Dorian Foulon (FRA) against Lauro Cesar Mouro Chaman on his home track. It was the Frenchman who found the perfect position and metronomic pace, reeling in his man with a lap remaining.

In the bronze medal race Daniel Abraham Gebru (NED) faced off against Franz-Josef Lässer (AUT), with the Austrian taking the advantage… and holding on to take the podium position.

WC2 500m time trial: Da Silva gets silver

Brazil celebrated again in the WC2 500m time trial, with another silver medal: this time for Sabrina Custódia Da Silva. The home rider had set a great fastest time of 43.674sec, and when Great Britain’s Daphne Schrager came in second fastest, the crowd knew that the Brazilian rider would finish in the medals.

Flurina Rigling (SUI) was the penultimate rider on track, and came in behind Da Silva. That left just the favourite, Amanda Reid (AUS), to decide the order of the medals… and she came home fastest 38.981 (average of 46.176 km/h).

WC1 500m time trial: Queen Quian’s world record

It was China’s Wangwei Quian who came out top in the WC1 500m time trial, and in the process she set the third world record of the day! The silver medal went to Katie Toft of Great Britain.

MC4 4km individual pursuit: Atkinson gets his man

In the gold medal race, 19-year-old Archie Atkinson (GBR) faced multiple road UCI World Champion and reigning C4 individual pursuit UCI World Champion Kevin Le Cunff (FRA). Atkinson steadily increased the advantage until he reeled his rival in with a lap to go.

The bronze medal race saw USA’s Bryan Larsen take on Gatien Le Rousseau. The Frenchman fought hard and earned a 4-sec advantage to take the medal.

WB 1km time trial: British 1-2

The best female riders with impaired vision, together with their sighted pilots, took to the track on their tandems for the final competitions of day two in Rio: the 1km time trials (four laps).

After The USA and Ireland had each hit the fastest time, it was over to Great Britain and Australia.

Of Great Britain’s three entries it was Elizabeth Jordan and pilot Danni Khan who came out top, recording a time of 1:07.185 for the kilometre, an average speed of 53.583 km/h.

They beat their compatriots Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Holl by 0.655-sec, with the Australians taking the bronze.

Friday will see more racing in the omnium 200m flying start, as well as the final of the MB 1km time trial, the MC4 scratch race and a host of individual pursuit finals!

Para-cycling sport classes for para-cycling track

  • C – Cycle: conventional bike with adaptations if necessary

  • B – Tandem: for visually impaired athletes with sighted pilot

Group C is divided into different sport classes, with the lower the number indicating a higher level of impairment.