Day 3 – Womens Tandem Road Time Trial / Mens C5, 4, 3 and T2 Road Time Trial / Womens C5, H3 and H2 Road Time Trial
| Day 1 Report & Results | Day 2 Report & Results | thanks to Barney Storey for these…
With 3 gold medals, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze for the British riders after the Road Races, attention turned to the final day of competition and the Road Time Trial events across all classes. The 5.5km circuit for the events was based outside the ANZ Stadium in Olympic Park and took the riders on an external lap of the stadium before heading out on a technical loop and back for the finish of each lap. Women’s tandems, Men’s C5, 4 and 3′s all did 4 laps, with Women’s C5 and H3 doing 3 laps and Men’s T2 and Women’s H2 doing 2 laps. It was a hectic morning of fast and exciting races with lots action and some great results for the British team.
Womens H3 Road Time Trial
World Champion for the H3 Road Time Trial, Rachel Morris was last off in her class and moved easily through the field catching riders in a dominant and very impressive performance. On a circuit that proved tough for the handbikes and trikes with all the off camber sections and constant cornering, it was a superb performance that also secured Morris the World Cup leader’s jersey.
Talking after receiving her medal, Rachel said, “I’m really happy, it was good to win by a bigger margin than expected.”
Women’s H3 Road Time Trial result:
1. R. Morris GBR
2. C. Hansen DEN
3. S. Reid NZL
Men’s T2 Road Time Trial
Great Britain’s 2nd World Champion in the Road Time Trial, for the Men’s T2 class is of course David Stone and after his victory in the Road Race he was looking to complete the double.With his closest rival, Farroni of Italy showing strongly during the final lap of the Road Race, it was expected to be a close race, but Stone had already taken 15 seconds out of his opponent in the first of two laps. Accelerating further as he entered the 2nd lap, Stone looked supreme as he took a further 30 seconds out of Farroni and crossed the line to secure the gold medal and overall World Cup lead.
Stone commented about the race which had proved to be quite eventful. “I’m really pleased to win again and it was an eventful race for me; as I was finishing my first lap i was aware there was another rider sitting on my wheel. As we came across the start/finish line to turn right and start the last lap, the rider then tried to undertake me on the corner and we had a touch of wheels before i accelerated away from him!”
Men’s T2 Road Time Trial result:
1. D. Stone GBR
2. G. Farroni ITA
3. S. Pearce USA
Women’s C5 Road Time Trial
Double Road World Champion from 2009 and 2010, Sarah Storey was Britain’s 3rd rider looking to complete the double here in Sydney too. Setting off last in her field she soon had the three riders in front of her in her sights and passed them all before the finish. She powered her way through riders from other classes, and their cars, which slowed her up a little in the final lap! Not that it mattered as Storey again showed her Time Trialling pedigree and versatility across all different types of courses.
After her time had been confirmed Storey commented, “I think I would have been 4th in the men’s going along at that speed and I felt in control throughout. The technical circuit was great fun, not the usual dual carriageway boredom, so the sprinting out of corners and extra power needed to pass riders before the next technical bit, made it all good fun!”
Women’s C5 Road Time Trial results:
1. S. Storey GBR
2. G. Neimanas USA
3. C. Mclean AUS
Women’s H2 Road Time Trial
Karen Darke has not been with the British squad for 12 months yet, but already she is establishing herself as gutsy and reliable performer and after a silver medal in the road race she was looking to further make her mark on the women’s H2 class. Her American rival who had taken the gold medal in the road race was again in flying form, but Darke was comfortably in silver medal position, putting 50 seconds into the World Championship bronze medallist, the girl who’d beaten Darke twice at the World Championships. It was again another impressive marker of Darke’s swift improvements and with the next round of the World Cup in about 5 weeks time, she was keen to test herself against the other European riders in her class.
“The American girl was just streaks ahead again today,” said Darke after her medal ceremony. “I’ve managed to beat the bronze medallist from Worlds again, so am looking forward to seeing how I’ve improved against the World Champion when we head to the European races. If I can race strongly there too, it will put me in a good position to challenge for a spot on the podium at this year’s Road Worlds.”
Women’s H2 Road Time Trial results:
1. M. Davis USA
2. K. Darke GBR
3. F. Fenocchio ITA
Womens Tandem Road Time Trial
Lora Turnham and Fiona Duncan were first up for GB and the short turnaround since their road race yesterday was a good test of their powers of recovery. Last off in the tandem field they were chasing some very talented pairings and at half distance looked to be well on for a podium place and showing no signs of fatigue after the efforts fo the road race. Powering through the final lap, their fast finish proved vital as they turned over the 3rd position they had been sitting in for most of the race. With just 2 between them and the Canadian pairing who had won the Road Race it was a silver for the British pair and a great start for the team.
Womens Tandem Road Time Trial Result
1. Parsons/Waddell NZL
2. Turnham/Duncan GBR
3. Weldon/Bessette CAN
Mens C5, C4 and C3 Road Time Trial
Russ White in the C5 class, Jody Cundy in the C4 class and Rik Waddon in the C3 class, were all off within quick succession of each other and looking to climb the rankings in their respective clases. White was the unfortunate victim of a mechanical but still managed to continue on to finish in 6th position gradually getting quicker as the laps went on. Cundy was 6th after the first lap and started to fade in the middle section but then a strong final lap pushed him back up the leaderboard and he was successful in beating three of the riders who’d finished ahead of him in the road race and was confirmed in a very credible 6th place. Waddon was looking very likely for a medal at the end of the first lap as he crossed with the 3rd fastest time and looked to be getting faster. His opponents were also increasing their pace though and after 2 laps Waddon slipped to 4th place which is where he finished at full distance.
Men’s C5 Road Time Trial results:
1. A. Tarlao ITA
2. M. Gallagher AUS
3. C. Miller IRL
6. R. White GBR
Men’s C4 Road Time Trial results:
1. J. Bouska CZE
2. M. Gattringer AUT
3. M. Pittacolo ITA
6. J. Cundy GBR
Men’s C3 Road Time Trial results:
1. J. Galletaud FRA
2. R. Bargna ITA
3. N. Smith NZL
4. R. Waddo GBR
