Day 8 Round-up

WHAT A STOREY

There were 12 rainbow jerseys decided in the second day of the Para-Cycling Road action in Dumfries and Galloway, but there was one win that stood head and shoulders above all others – that of Dame Sarah Storey.

The Paralympic legend was going for her 36th world title in the women’s C5 individual time trial, and no one could get close to the 45-year-old ace. The Dame’s win wasn’t the only victory for Great Britain, with Frances Brown securing the top spot in the women’s C1 ITT, while Fin Graham (men’s C3 ITT) and Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl (women’s B ITT) came 2nd  on their home roads

DYGERT DOUBLES UP

The American Chloe Dygert had a terrible few years after her injury at the 2020 world champs, but seems to be back at her world-leading best. After winning the women’s individual pursuit on the track, she turned her attention to the road and the individual time trials. Her low seeding meant she was early out of the start hut, but only Grace Brown (Australia) came close to her blistering time.

In the juniors, Australian Felicity Wilson-Haffenden pipped Great Britain’s Isabel Sharp to top spot.

REIGNING CHAMPS REIGN SUPREME

The second day of off-road racing at the Tweed Valley’s Glentress Forest certainly didn’t disappoint with four breathless races for fans to enjoy.

In the men’s elite mountain bike cross-country short track, New Zealand’s Sam Gaze made it back-to-back wins in the adrenaline-fuelled distance, keeping ahead of the pack and surviving a late surge from France’s Victor Koretzky. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France) meanwhile launched a rocket of an attack with one lap to go in the women’s elite and no one could hold her back wheel as she soloed to victory.

The win of the day though went to Denmark’s Albert Philipsen. The 16-year-old became a double discipline world champ, following up his win in the men’s junior road race with victory in the men’s junior mountain bike cross-country. The women’s junior category meanwhile was won by Canada’s Isabella Holmgren.

Cassagne and Shoji get into a spin

The BMX freestyle flatland has been a firm fan favourite of the world champs, with the free-to-attend event in Glasgow Green attracting big crowds across its three days of competition. They were treated to a show of amazing skill and technique during the final session, as the best in the business threw down some amazing runs that raised the bar higher than anything we’d seen so far.

In the women’s finals, reigning champ Aude Cassagne (France) held off the rest of the competition to make it back-to-back world titles, while in the men’s, Japan’s Yu Shoji pulled together some amazing combos to score a whopping 94.16 – 3 points clear of second-placed Kio Kayakawa (Japan).

Finalists firmed up

In the second day of trials and tribulations on the Glasgow Green course, it was time for some semi-finals in the men’s junior (20” and 26”) and women’s (elite open). Of today’s qualifiers, British hopes will be pinned to Oliver Weightman’s shoulders on Saturday’s final.