British Cycling National Track Championships 2024
Press Release – 23 February 2024. Images by Chris Maher
Day 1 | Friday 23 February 2024
Pete Mitchell was crowned comeback king in the men’s sprint and Neil and Lora Fachie took national titles on the first day of the British National Track Championships in Manchester.
In total, 10 national champions were crowned throughout the day, as the event returned to Manchester for the first time since 2020.
Men’s sprint
Pete Mitchell (Black Line) stormed to the men’s sprint title, having come out of retirement to dominate and take his first senior individual national title.
Mitchell sailed through each round before facing Marcus Hiley (Team Inspired) in the gold medal ride off, where he took two victories to take the overall win.
Second fastest qualifier Hiley beat his Team Inspired teammate Hayden Norris after a close battle of three rides in the quarter-finals, before facing off defending champion Harry Ledingham-Horn (Team Inspired) to ease through to the gold medal ride off.
After qualifying fastest with a time of 9.926, Lyall Craig (Glasgow Track Racing Club) sailed through the opening rounds, before a close three rides against Mitchell saw him into the bronze medal ride off against Ledingham-Horn. Two cagey races saw Ledingham-Horn take the win and round off the podium in bronze.
Speaking after his win, Mitchell said:
“I’ve been training really hard and knew I was going well so just carried on so I could do well at nationals, so I guess it is a comeback! I did have a good three years away from training and had a nasty concussion which sort of ended by time on the GB team as I was out for a year.
“It’s my first individual senior title so I can’t believe it really. I’m very shocked and definitely didn’t expect it. To win it is crazy! This is my home track and Manchester always delivers. For me, it feels like bringing it home and it’s been a great day.”
Para-cycling B time-trial
Lora and Neil Fachie asserted their dominance in the women’s and men’s para-cycling B time-trial races with golden performances.
Lora Fachie (Black Line) and pilot Corrine Hall (Storey Racing) stormed to the women’s win, completing the 1km ride in 1:09.166 to take the gold medal. Fachie and Hall beat world champions Sophie Unwin (Private) and Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning), who finished a second behind in 1:10.239, while Natalie Jamieson (Born to Bike RT) and Emily Chilton (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) took home the bronze.
Speaking after her win, Fachie said:
“We weren’t really expecting this one, it’s quite a nice surprise. Training has been going ok but it’s nice to pull out a decent ride. It’s a confidence boost ahead of worlds in a few weeks’ time.”
World champions Neil Fachie (Black Line) and Matt Rotherham (ESV Manchester) also secured the gold medal in the men’s equivalent, putting out a powerful performance to take the win in 1:00.764. James Ball (Private) and Steffan Lloyd (Wales Racing Academy) claimed the silver with a time of 1:01.371, while Thomas Wing (Private) and Josh Dunham (VC St Raphael) clocked 1:07.047 to win the bronze.
Fachie said:
“Not a bad day at the office! This year has not been ideal prep for us so to actually come here and put in a good performance, it’s just such a good feeling. We’re competing against our teammates who are phenomenal athletes and it’s so good to be back in Manchester again. The line felt as smooth as anything, it’s hard to handle those bikes at those speeds around a tight velodrome and massive credit to Matt for that.”
Women’s scratch race
Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) won the women’s scratch race after a flying final effort saw her hold on to take her first senior individual title in Manchester.
The 10km race saw Grace Lister (HESS) spearhead the front of the race from the gun, driving the pace forward with Cat Ferguson (Hope Tech Factory Racing). Dannielle Watkinson (Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon) took control at the halfway point, driving on the pace, before being caught.
With 20 laps remaining, Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) and Carys Lloyd (Liv CC – Halo Films) got away but came back together, with Lloyd dropping off the pace and reeled back into the bunch. Richardson continued to ride strongly away with Lidl-Trek’s Izzy Sharp chasing solo behind.
Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) turned on her engine and flew round the two with ease, while Lister and Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) were tight on her wheel before it all came back together.
The final seven laps saw some chaotic racing, with Watkinson again making a move with four laps remaining. Shaw continued to show her strength as Scottish champion and overtook, before Holl showed her immense speed to sail well ahead of the field.
The final lap saw Leech and Ferguson chasing tightly but Holl held on to pinch the win.
Having already claimed a silver in the tandem events, Holl said:
“It was a pretty chilled start which was quite nice. It’s a long race with that many girls, no one is going to go too early. I tried to make sure I was super relaxed throughout, keeping myself out of trouble. There were a few dangerous moves, Kate Richardson had a really good move towards the end and then I just saw a moment with about five [laps] to go and I decided I had to be all in and thankfully it paid off. I’ve won a few national titles, but I’ve never won an individual one on my own, so this means a lot.”
Women's 500m time-trial
Rhianna Parris-Smith (Team Inspired) stormed to her first national title in the women’s 500m time-trial, recording a time of 33.954 seconds.
It was a Team Inspired clean sweep as Milly Tanner came second 0.238 seconds behind, as Lowri Thomas finished third less than a tenth of a second behind Tanner.
Parris-Smith said:
“Honestly, it’s just a shock and surprise but I’m just trying to take it all in. It’s just about trying to go as fast as I can. In the second half I was trying to stay as aero as possible, which I managed to do, so I’m really happy. It’s really nice to have a crowd in here – they’ve been amazing all day.”
Para-cycling C1-5 time-trial
World champion Jody Cundy (Para-T) put down a blistering time of 1:04.527 to take another national title in the men’s C4-5 1km time-trial. Blaine Hunt (Para-T) took the silver in 1:05.181 while Archie Atkinson (Para-T) claimed the bronze.
Speaking after his win, Cundy said:
“It was a good ride – I wasn’t really sure where I was performance wise. It was nice to do a good performance today and the best thing is, I’m doing the morning kilo tomorrow so it doesn’t stop there! I’m looking forward to a little bit of noise in here and performing in front of a crowd again is so nice.”
Daphne Schrager (DI MASCIO) retained her title in the para-cycling C1-5 500m time-trial, clocking 38.187 to take the national stripes. Rebecca Newark (Contiki Velo Bavarian RT) finished second in 40.442 to claim the silver medal, while Katie Toft (Storey Racing) finished third on 42.006.
Jaco Van Gass (Para-T) won the national title in the men’s time trial para C1-3 with a time of 1:07.417. Finlay Graham (Para-T) came in second with a time of 1:08.206 and Matthew Robertson (Woolwich CC) picked up the bronze medal with a time of 1:10.447.
Men's individual pursuit
Michael Gill (Private) stormed to the individual pursuit win to take his first ever national title in a blistering time of 4:09.400.
Having qualified fastest on 4:11.020, the final saw Gill catch Will Roberts (Saint Piran) within the final kilometre, and carry on to clock a personal best time. Roberts settled for the silver while Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike Development Team) took the bronze on 4:17.852 to just beat William Perrett (Spirit TBW).
Speaking on his first national title, Gill said:
“In qualifying, I was just trying to put a ride together, really. I’m not really sure where I was. Going into it, I hadn’t really done an individual pursuit. I was mainly focused on the team pursuit.
“I just wanted to build on that and put a good ride together, so I’m pretty pleased to come home with two personal bests.”
Women's team pursuit
Team Inspired put on a dominant display in the final of the women’s team pursuit to take the national title.
The team made up of Maddie Leech, Grace Lister, Kate Richardson and Izzy Sharp made the catch in the final kilometre, beating Tofauti Everyone Active’s Erin Boothman, Carys Lloyd, Abigail Miller and Mari Porton to the gold medal.
Sharp said:
“It’s really nice being surrounded by the team because we can pick each other up. It’s great to be in Manchester, but it’s kind of weird here because it’s our training ground and it feels like we’re already racing in a way and the crowd were amazing.”
Day 2 | Saturday 24 February 2024
Will Perrett retained his men’s points title in heroic style as Lauren Bell was undefeated in the women’s sprint on the second day of the British National Track Championships in Manchester.
11 national champions were crowned on the second day of exciting competition in Manchester, returning to the venue for the first time since 2020.
Men’s points race
William Perrett (Spirit TBW) put in a heroic performance in the men’s points race to retain his title for a second year.
After a steady start, Will Roberts (Saint Piran) made moves to take the second sprint, with a chasing Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) closing the gap to reel the Welshman back in. Will Tidball (Saint Piran) kept on the pace for the third sprint and pushed on in a bid to get away with a small group. The scratch world champion looked on good form, claiming maximum points, before it came back together. Michael Gill (Private) and Wiggins continued to be active in the bunch, before Perrett made his first move with Roberts just inside 80 laps but was foiled quickly by an attacking peloton.
Having just claimed a bronze in the 1km time-trial, Henry Hobbs (Willebrord Wil Vooruit) made a ferocious attack on the sixth sprint with a fiercely chasing peloton behind, and was eventually caught.
An active bunch continued to ebb and flow with Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) storming off the front before Wiggins closed the gap. Perrett made his deciding move with 37 laps remaining as Gill and Callum Twelves (Torres-Fernando Barcelo) chased, with Perrett and Gill claiming 20 points. Wiggins and Roberts then got away, with Perrett showing his strength to close the gap and form a group of six, claiming another lap.
With 20 laps remaining, Perrett accelerated away solo to take his third lap to confirm the lead and win the overall title with ease on 78 points.
A cagey final six laps saw Noah Hobbs (GFD) power to cross the line first in the final sprint, which was enough to take him into the bronze medal position on 34 points, while Roberts’ second place in the sprint saw him claim the silver on 42 points.
Speaking after his win, Perrett said:
“It was quite a cagey start. In previous years it kicked off really early and I think the other riders were probably conscious of how it’s gone in previous years. Once there had been a couple of hard sprints, I could tell the legs were going out of the bunch and that was my time to put on the gas and go for it.”
Women’s sprint
Lauren Bell (Team Inspired) was undefeated in the women’s sprint in order to take the national title in style.
After qualifying fastest in a time of 10.845 – the only rider to dip under 11 seconds, – Bell sailed through her opening rounds to reach the semi-finals against junior rider Georgette Rand (Velo Club Lincoln), where she took two wins.
Second fastest qualifier Rhian Edmunds (Team Inspired) faced teammate Iona Moir (Team Inspired) in the semis, with Moir and Edmunds securing a win each in tight races, taking it right to the line. A final heat saw the two cross the line in a photo finish, with Edmunds receiving the go ahead to make it into the gold medal ride off against Bell.
Facing 2022 champion Rhian Edmunds (Team Inspired), Bell continued to show off her sprinting prowess to outpower her teammate and take the title as Edmunds settled for silver.
Moir and Rand had a great battle for the bronze, with Moir taking the first win and Rand closing in on the second sprint to just pip the win on the line. The final race saw Rand snatch the win and round off the podium in bronze.
Speaking after her win, Bell said:
“I came in here with the goal of just enjoying riding my bike and having fun, the crowd in Manchester certainly helped that – they were amazing.
So many times you go to races and there is so much pressure on you, so it’s nice to come here, try new things and just enjoy myself. Even with the selection process hotting up, I’m just trying to focus on myself and take each day as it comes.”
Men’s and women’s B pursuit
Lora Fachie (Black Line) and Corrine Hall (Storey Racing) added to yesterday’s gold in the 1km time-trial by storming to the gold in the women’s B individual pursuit.
It was a dominant display against world champions Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl, with Fachie and Hall almost making the catch, and went on to win in a time of 3:21.765.
Speaking after their win, Fachie said:
“I don’t think we expected to go that quick. The plan was just to ride hard, there was one word we said to each other going into that and the word was just ‘commit’ and I think that’s what we did.”
Stephen Bate (Private) and Chris Latham (Private) took the gold in the men’s B individual pursuit, finishing with a time of 4:04.32, while a time of 4:15.05 seconds earned Chris McDonald (PDQ Cycle Coaching) and Adam Duggleby (ADDFORM – VIVE LE VELO) the silver medal.
Christopher Wilkins (FTP-Fulfil The Potential-Racing) and Henry Latimer (TAAP Kalas) took the bronze with a time of 4:32.915.
Men’s team sprint
Team Inspired A took the top spot in the men’s team sprint, beating Team Inspired B for the title, while ESV Manchester brought it home for the bronze.
Having qualified fastest on 43.684, Team Inspired A of Ed Lowe, Hayden Norris and Harry Ledingham-Horn showed their fine form to knock out HUUB BCC RT B in the semi-final and set up a gold medal race against Team Inspired B.
The A team were quick off the mark with the B team of Marcus Hiley, Harry Radford and Joe Truman neck in neck throughout the race, but Team Inspired A managed to win the title on 43.517 – a tenth quicker than their teammates.
Oliver Aloul, Tom Morrissey and Matt Rotherham managed to round off the podium in bronze for ESV Manchester, beating Enhanced’s Ben Gill, Bo Mayer and Oliver Pettifer. Enhanced started strongly, but a flying Rotherham managed to wrestle back the lead to secure the medal.
Speaking on their win, Ledingham-Horn said:
“I feel amazing! It was a close final, it was nerve-wracking, and we knew it was going to be fast. I don’t think I’ve ever raced in front of a crowd this big. You can hear the noise and it really pushes you on.”
Women’s individual pursuit
Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) qualified fastest in 3:29.255 to face Frankie Hall (DAS – Handsling Bikes) in the gold medal ride off. Richardson dominated from the start and was up two seconds at the halfway point. She made the catch with a lap to spare.
Izzy Sharp (Lidl-TREK) took the bronze after going almost four seconds behind. A big penultimate lap reeled Maddie Leech (Lifeplus Wahoo) back in and Sharp took third in a time of 3:36.468.
Claiming her first individual national title, Richardson said:
“I felt in really good shape coming into the championships – this was the competition that I really wanted to perform in.
“Through Covid-19, we had gotten used to having no crowds so it’s amazing to have full stands again. It’s mad how much it eases the pain in your legs, it’s just so nice to have people back in the crowds again – it makes such a difference.”
Men’s 1km time-trial
Aaron Pope (University of Exeter CC) came back from over half a second down to take gold in the men’s 1km time-trial. Pope set a time of 1:02.172 to knock Niall Monks (Glasgow Track RC) off the top spot, whose 1:02.31 run was good enough for second place.
The 16-year-old Henry Hobbs (Willebrord Wil Vooruit), having only finished his GCSE’s a few months ago, claimed the bronze with a time of 1:02.574.
Pope said:
“I was bricking it. I wasn’t going to ride this morning, I had a bit of a meltdown so I went to Greggs and had three steak bakes and at the last minute decided to race. It was just pedal hard and hang on.”
Men’s and women’s C1-5 pursuit
In the men’s C4-5 individual pursuit, Archie Atkinson (Para-T) recorded a new national record as he raced to the gold medal in a time of 4:30.477 in front of a home crowd.
Archie said: “I’m very proud of it, a national record as well which is a bonus. It’s a home velodrome for me so it was nice to win in front of a home crowd as well, it adds that little bit more to the victory”.
Blaine Hunt (Para-T) took the silver with a time of 4:33.984, while Will Bjergfelt (AeroCoach) came third with a time of 4:35.693.
Meanwhile, in the men’s C1-2 individual pursuit, Matthew Robertson (Woolwich CC) took the gold in a time of 3:41.933 while Ryan Taylor (Ilkeston Cycle Club) took the silver in 3:44.738. In the men’s C3 individual pursuit, Finlay Graham (Para-T) was crowned the champion after also setting a national record in a time of 3:23.921. Teammate Jaco van Gass claimed second in 3:27.809, while the bronze medal was awarded to Jacob Smith (Private).
Daphne Schrager (DI MASCIO) claimed her second national title of the weekend, having been crowned in the women’s C1-5 individual pursuit as she stormed to victory in 3:30.289. Amelia Cass (Loughborough Students CC) took the silver in a time of 3:45.894, while Morgan Newberry (Loughborough Lightning) claimed the bronze with a time of 3:57.573.
Talking through the race, Schrager said:
“It was brutal from start to finish. I was hoping just to do a solid ride which I delivered. I’m not an underdog anymore, I’ve performed on the world stage so there is a bit more expectation. I did the best I could on the day, we learn lots from it but there’s a lot more to give!”
Day 3 | Sunday 25 February 2024
Jenny Holl and Lauren Bell both took their second titles of the weekend on the final day of the British National Track Championships at the home of British Cycling, while Team Wales and Team Inspired won the team pursuit and team sprint, respectively.
28 national champions were crowned over the three days at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, returning to the venue for the first time since 2020.
Women’s points race
Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) secured her second title of the weekend in the women’s points race to round off a dream British National Track Championships.
Holl, who already claimed the gold in the scratch race on Friday, finished in fantastic form after a surprise attack that saw her hold on to take the win solo, as Kate Richardson (Lifeplus-Wahoo) and Frankie Hall (DAS-Handsling) secured second and third in a tight sprint finish.
Richardson was leading from the gun, taking the first sprint to win five points, before Holl won the second sprint to make it a battle of the Scots. Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) was storming coming into the bell lap for the third sprint, but was pipped on the line by Carys Lloyd (Tofauti
Everyone Active).
Holl looked on fire and went solo with 47 laps to go, as Hall and Richardson chased, coming together to form a front group of three with 44 laps remaining as Lloyd continued to chase hard behind.
As the front three gained a lap and claimed the maximum 20 points, Charlotte Hodgkinson-Byrne (DAS-Handsling) and Grace Lister (HESS) escaped off the front with 36 laps to go.
The peloton continued to keep on the pace and drew the pair back in, before Izzy Sharp (Lidl-TREK) and Hall got away together, with Hall attempting to make another attempt to get away solo, but was reeled back in by a steaming Richardson.
Cat Ferguson (Shibden) attacked with 14 laps remaining, as Holl, Rebecca Gardiner (LVY), Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Team) and Richardson hunted her down.
Leech, Lister and Arabella Blackburn (Shidben) managed to get away, but a tiring trio saw Holl take advantage, sprinting past them into the final lap. Holl bridged the gap and went over the top to claim her second title.
Speaking after the race Holl said:
“To be honest I felt pretty shocking at the start and I didn’t feel great at any point during it, but I guess I felt better than everyone else. I didn’t pick anything up early on and towards the end I wasn’t riding to win, I was riding to keep myself in second because Kate seemed so strong and it all came together in the last sprint. I’m over the moon!”
Women’s keirin
Lauren Bell (Team Inspired) took her second win of the weekend as she was crowned the women’s keirin champion.
A thrilling final made up of teammates Bell, Rhian Edmunds and Iona Moir (Team Inspired), Amy Cole (Wales Racing Academy), Georgette Rand (Velo Club Lincoln) and Kirsty Johnson (Edinburgh RC) saw riders follow the derny in anticipation.
Bell and Edmunds battled it out coming into the bell lap, with Bell just edging out her teammate to claim her second gold of the weekend after dominating in the women’s sprint yesterday. Welsh rider Cole claimed the bronze.
Speaking after collecting her gold medal, Bell said:
“I wanted to go into the race having learnt something, I decided to try some different things and I learned the keirin hurts!
“I think I needed to have a race like this to just enjoy myself with the crowd and have fun riding my bike and feel mentally refreshed.”
Men’s scratch race
Sam Fisher (Wales Racing Academy) took a phenomenal win in the men’s scratch race, securing his second national title of the day after the men’s team pursuit earlier in the session.
Fisher, at just 17-years-old, timed his attack to perfection, making a ferocious sprint with four laps remaining and clinging on to take the overall win, while Archie Fletcher (360cycling) and Will Roberts (Saint Piran) took it to the line for silver and bronze.
Assessing the win, Fisher said:
“I came into this weekend with a bit of an illness, and after getting lapped twice in the points qualification yesterday, I wasn’t expecting this at all. The race was wicked and the crowd were amazing, screaming for me over the last couple of laps. I couldn’t have asked for more. My goal for today was to stay in the group, so to win is totally unexpected.”
The 80 lap race started with yesterday’s points champion, Will Perrett (Spirit TBW), leading from the off, and was soon joined by Roberts, Nathan Hardy (Team PB Performance), Timothy Torrie (trainSharp Elite), Henry Hobbs (Willebrord Wil Vooruit), before being swiftly caught.
Liam Davison (ADDFORM – VIVE LE VELO) made a solo move off the front with 41 laps meaning, with Perrett chasing hard, before Finlay Tarling (Willebrod Wil Vooruit) made a surprise attack over the top of the peloton as the pair were caught.
Tarling managed to gain a quarter of a lap on the bunch, with Perrett and Andrew Brinkley (OVB) looking to bridge over, but was foiled as the peloton was caught.
Perrett went with nine laps to go, Henry Hobbs (Willebrord Wil Vooruit) and Ross Birrell (Mini Discar) hot on his wheel with Nathan Hardy (Team PB Performance) and Ben Marsh (HUUB BCC RT) chasing but all came back together with five laps remaining.
But it was a grand finale as Fisher sprinted with four laps to go, Fletcher attempted a chase but no one was catching Fisher.
Men’s keirin
Hayden Norris (Team Inspired) took the men’s keirin final after a dramatic photo finish.
In the much anticipated final, Norris edged his wheel ahead of Niall Monks (Glasgow Track Racing Club) and Harvey McNaughton (Wales Racing Academy) to take the title.
The championships saved one of its closest finishes until last, bringing the sell-out crowd to its feet as the pack stormed around the final bend of the race with the front group three abreast.
McNaughton and Monks appeared to have muscled in front with the line approaching, but a terrific final lunge saw Norris take the win.
Norris had been in close finishes all day, pipping Oliver Pettifer (Enhanced) to win his heat before sneaking through to the final behind Monks and Harry Ledingham-Horn (Team Inspired).
Of his stunning victory, Norris said:
“I thought the race was going to kick off really early with it being such a stacked field. I was looking over my shoulder with two laps to go and with nothing happening, I thought ‘someone’s gotta do it’, so I put my head down and went for it. I had no idea who had it but I was over the moon to clinch it. Keirin is so out of your hands and so much can happen, but I’ve put a lot of work into it and I think it shows.”
Silver and bronze positions were deservedly picked up by Monks and McNaughton, respectively.
Women’s team sprint Inspire’s Emma Finucane, Georgette Rand, Milly Tanner and Sophie Capewell clinched gold in the women’s team sprint, beating teammates Team Inspired. Sprint world champion Finucane, Rand and Tanner qualified fastest in a time of 49.193, just ahead of Team Inspired’s Rhian Edmunds, Iona Moir and Rhianna Parris-Smith.
In the gold medal final, which saw Capewell in for Finucane, Inspire took a commanding lead from the gun, with Team Inspired hot on their heels, responding well on lap two and three after clawing back almost half a second. However, Inspire’s strong start proved decisive as they managed to maintain their pace to claim gold.
After their win, Tanner said:
“It feels really good to take the title. We all had quite individual targets to come away from this and we had not actually ridden together as a team so to win feels great. It is amazing to be home here at the home of cycling and the support is always brilliant.”
Para-cycling men’s B sprint
James Ball (Private) and Steff Lloyd (Wales Racing Academy) retained their men’s B sprint national title after a fantastic battle against world champions Neil Fachie (Black Line) and Matt Rotherham (ESV Manchester).
Having qualified fastest on 9.928, Fachie and Rotherham sailed through their opening matches to face defending champions Ball and Lloyd in the gold medal ride off.
The opening heat saw Ball and Lloyd leading from the front, holding off the charge of Fachie and Rotherham to take the first win, posting a time of 10.425. Ball and Lloyd’s power proved unmatchable in the second contest as they took a high line, churning up the pace before dropping in front of the world champions and securing the overall title, once again dipping well under 11 seconds.
Taking in the magnitude of the win, Ball said:
“This was essentially a world championship final between two elite bikes. Training together, we always learn a lot from each other, although we had no idea what each team was going to do in the race. We tried to take the front – it didn’t really work but I was confident we would have the power to pass them over the top and have enough in the tank to finish.”
Speaking on the return to the National Cycling Centre, Lloyd said:
“The crowd here are amazing. As Welsh lads, it’s been nice to be down in Newport the past few years, but this is the home of British Cycling and it’s great to be back.”
To secure the bronze medal, Thomas Wing (Private) and Josh Dunham (VC St Raphael) fought off Mason Bradley (Born to Bike RT) and Sean Sleigh (Born to Bike RT) in three rides to take the final spot on the podium.
Men’s team pursuit
Team Wales stormed to the men’s team pursuit title, with Sam Fisher, Will Roberts, Will Salter and Finlay Tarling taking the gold medal after a close battle with WKG – WardPerformanceUK.com.
After a false start in qualifying, the composite team of Sebastian Garry, Michael Gill, Will Perrett and Tom Ward (WKG – WardPerformanceUK.com S/B Kyle Gordon) stormed to the fastest time, clocking 4:02.959.
The gold medal final saw Team Wales begin the race looking the more dominant side, leading by over a second at the halfway point.
WKG – Ward Performance began to close the gap in the final kilometre, and eventually taking the lead coming into the final few laps, but Team Wales showed their grit to squeeze on and clinch the win, crossing the line as nationals champions in a time of 4:01.548.
Speaking on their win, Roberts said:
“It was really nice to win with this team and it was the first time we have ridden together, we weren’t focusing on the other team at all. The crowd was roaring and my family were in the crowd so it’s really nice to win in front of them.”
Para-cycling C1-5 mixed team sprint
Jody Cundy, Blaine Hunt and Matthew Robertson of The Avengers took on Guardians of the Galaxy made up of Archie Atkinson, Finlay Graham and Rebecca Newark for the win in the C1-5 mixed team sprint. The Avengers had qualified fastest with a time of 51.626. They dominated from start to finish and took the gold in a time of 51.390.
The Justice League made up of Sam Davies, Callum Deboys and Jacob Smith faced Wayne Harrod, Christopher Scott and Ben Wood defeated The Incredibles for third place. The Justice League qualified two seconds faster and prevailed in the final.
