French and British one-twos at 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships

MC4 scratch race for Le Cunff and Le Rousseau

The third day of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Brazil delivered thrilling action on the track at Rio de Janeiro’s Barra Olympic and Paralympic Park velodrome. The day’s excitement mounted as the races for the rainbow jerseys approached…

Fast-paced omnium appetisers

After a morning of qualifying races, the afternoon brought more thrills in the omnium 200m flying start. In the Men’s C5 race, Thailand’s Jaturong Niwanti won from Britain’s Blaine Hunt and Belgium’s Niels Verschaeren. In the WC1 category it was another head-to-head between Wangwei Qian and Great Britain’s Katie Toft, with the Chinese world record holder once again getting the win. And in the WC2 event Switzerland’s Flurina Ringling was the best of the eight riders.

MB 1km time trial: Fachie retains the rainbow

Reigning UCI World Champions Neil Fachie and pilot Matthew Rotherham (GBR) put in a fast time in the finals, with the Germans Thomas Ulbricht and Robert Förstemann (pilot) slotting into provisional second place. Then the event’s fastest qualifiers, Team GB’s James Ball and pilot Steffan Lloyd (silver medalists last year) set out and pipped the German pair to take silver in 2024. So Fachie collects another rainbow jersey, and the final top three in 2024 match last year’s podium in Glasgow, Scotland (Great Britain).

MC4 15km scratch race: French 1-2

Twenty-one riders set out on the 60-lap race for a fascinating high-speed game of cat and mouse. In the end it was a 1-2 for France, with Kevin Le Cunff winning from Gatien Le Rousseau. Third place went to Bryan Larsen of the USA, followed by – one to watch –15-year-old Argentinian Leandro Federico Ambrossi Ramos in fourth!

MC3 3km individual pursuit: Van Gass full gas

The all-British gold medal race pitted Finlay Graham against Jaco Van Gass, with the early advantage to Van Gass. Graham fought back, cutting the deficit to 1.25 seconds, but the day’s glory and the rainbow jersey was for Van Gass.

In the bronze medal race between Devon Briggs (NZL) and Australia’s three-time UCI World Champion David Nicholas, the Aussie took the advantage at half way, but the Kiwi fought back… taking the lead with 1.5 laps to go, and finishing strongly with a margin of nearly two seconds.

WC5 3km individual pursuit: Gaugain’s nerveless defence

Heidi Gaugain (FRA) and Nicole Murray (NZL) went for gold, with an intense start from the New Zealand rider, looking to overturn the finish order from 2023. Gaugain dug in, brought the gap down with 500m to go, and did enough to neatly retain the jersey for France.

The 2023 bronze medalist Claudia Cretti (ITA) faced France’s Marie Patouillet in the race for bronze and managed to repeat her third-place performance from last year.

WC4 3km individual pursuit: Petricola’s five-in-a-row

Fighting for the gold medal were Emily Petricola (AUS) and Samantha Bosco (USA). The Australian powered her way over the 3km to retain her UCI world title. Bosco improved on her 2023 bronze to take silver in 2024.

In a tight bronze medal race, Keely Shaw (CAN) steadily chased down the super-smooth Anna Grace Taylor (NZL), and take the third podium place.

WC3 3km individual pursuit: Wang gets gold

The day’s last final saw Xiaomei Wang (CHN) and reigning UCI World Champion Keiko Sugiura (JPN) go head-to-head for gold. The Chinese rider was smooth and strong, forcing the pace. Even though the defending champion Sugiura fought back, there was no denying the new UCI World Champion Wang!

In the bronze medal race, Aniek van den Aarssen (NED) took on Clara Brown (USA). The Dutch rider demonstrated the power that won her silver in 2023, earning a hard-fought bronze medal this time round.

Individual pursuit, time trial and scratch race finals are on the programme for Saturday, the fourth day of competition.

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.