24/09/2024
RAINBOW DELIGHT FOR FERGUSON, BROWN AND BARROW IN GB MEDAL HAUL AT 2024 UCI ROAD AND PARA-CYCLING ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Press Release British Cycling 24 Sept
Images SWPix.com
An impressive day by Great Britain saw Cat Ferguson and Felix Barrow book end the day winning their first world titles in the junior women’s and men’s T2 time-trials respectively.
An additional three silver and three bronze medals won by Great Britain’s road and para-road cyclists to make a total of 12 so far this championships.
Junior women’s time-trial
The junior women’s time-trial saw both Brits on the podium after Cat Ferguson delivered a dominant ride to take her first world title, while teammate Imogen Wolff brought home the bronze medal.
The first Brit off the ramp, Wolff set a good pace, leading at the first checkpoint in 11:53.08, just 0.06 seconds ahead of Viktoria Chladonova (Slovakia).
However, having set off without attaching her power metre, Wolff struggled to hit her expected pace and slowed up slightly heading into the finish, crossing the line second in a time of 24:26.30. This put her 2.30 seconds off Chladonova’s lead time with around 20 riders to go.
Setting off last, Ferguson started strongly, hitting the first checkpoint an incredible 8.65 seconds ahead of her closest rival. Powering through the course, unphased by any technicalities or elevation, Ferguson was untouchable as she crossed the finish line 34.30 seconds ahead of Chladonova to take her first world title.
Wolff awaited the final result and took the bronze medal - her first at world level in her final year as a junior.
On winning her first world title, Ferguson said it felt: “"Incredible - the disappointment I've had before makes this jersey even more special."
“To put the ride in, the process that went into this… it’s incredible. I’ve got so many people to thank. I don’t have the words right now but I’m incredibly grateful to them all.”
Men’s T2 time-trial
Felix Barrow delivered a sensational ride in the men’s T2 trike race, leaving his rivals for dust with an 11km sprint.
The 2023 bronze medallist hit the first time-check at pace, leading by 32 seconds with eight riders to go. Barrow held a considerable lead with no sense of easing up, instead taking time out of his opponents, putting the power down for the final kilometres. Barrow crossed the finish line in style with a time of 16:28.66 to win the gold medal and his first rainbow jersey by a staggering 34.84 seconds.
Women’s C1 time-trial
It was a battle of the Brits as reigning world champion Fran Brown and multiple world-medallist Katie Toft took to the roads of Zurich to compete for the win as the only entrants in the women’s C1 time-trial.
On a challenging course, Brown showcased her credentials, taking on the fast course with confidence, taking the win by over four minutes as Toft came in behind her to take the silver.
Women’s C2 time-trial
The C2 women’s time-trial delivered a fantastic spectacle with double delight for the British duo of Daphne Schrager and Amelia Cass who took silver and bronze respectively.
A strong start from the ramp saw Cass hit the halfway mark in a time of 14:23.90, holding onto the lead until the final four riders. Having recently come back from illness, Schrager showed no signs of weakness as she set a new best time of 13:16.92, taking over 50 seconds out of Cass. Swiss rider Fleurina Rigling knocked Schrager down into second and it was all on the line to see who could maintain their pace over the second half.
Cass delivered a negative split, putting down the pace in the final 9km to match her 2023 result with a bronze medal. Meanwhile, Schrager was unable to make up the 23.01 second gap that Rigling had on her, but still secured a sensational silver medal.
Speaking to her silver medal after coming back from illness, Schrager said: "To just get to the end was all we cared about, so to come away with a silver medal, I couldn’t be happier.
“I’ve had more tears than happiness this week and he’s [coach, John Hewitt] got me to the start line, thanks to everyone that got me here, I couldn’t be more proud.”
Men’s C2 time-trial
Having just missed out on a medal at last year’s world championships, Matt Robertson came out determined to return home with some silverware, and that he did after conquering a gruelling out and back course. Sitting in third place at the time-check, Robertson was 22 seconds behind the leader. A tough second half saw the gap widen to just over a minute, but with almost 30 seconds up on his closest rival, Robertson comfortably took third place and the bronze medal.
Men’s C3 time-trial
Birthday boy Fin Graham took an impressive silver medal in the men’s C3 time-trial in a closely fought race which saw just 4.75 seconds between podium positions.
Graham fired from the off, coming through the check point in second place. With just eight seconds separating Graham and leader Floria Bouziani (France). Graham put the hammer down in the second half of the race, making up six seconds on Bouziani to finish just two seconds behind, securing his third back-to-back silver world championship time-trial medal.
Teammate Ben Watson also put in a strong ride sitting in third at halfway, but had to settle with fourth place overall.
Men’s H4 time-trial
Callum Russell delivered a strong ride in his world championship debut, having recently transferred from para-rowing. He took on the challenging course with gusto, sitting in fourth at the halfway mark. Rusell continued to stay consistent and finished just off the podium in fourth place in the men’s H4 time-trial with a time of 25:41.51.
Tomorrow will see the start of the road races, with Chris McDonald and Adam Duggleby competing in the men’s tandem event, while Lizzi Jordan and Danni Khan, Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl and Lora Fachie and Corrine Hall will ride in the women’s equivalent. Both events are available to watch on the BBC live stream.
