We are now only days away from the Para-Cycling Track World Championships (March 11-13) and with this being only one of two track competitions with qualifying points for the 2012 London Paralympic Games, the UK team are heading out to Montichiari, Italy with the strongest possible side. “We expect to see some strong performances from our riders,” says Team Manager Gareth Sheppard, “Our goal is to bring back as many medals as possible to help us qualify a satisfactory number of athletes for track events at the London Games.”
The team of 16 includes seven Paralympic champions – Mark Bristow, Jody Cundy, Anthony Kappes, Darren Kenny, Aileen McGlynn, Barney Storey and Sarah Storey, along with double World Champion Neil Fachie. In to the mix also goes a further handful of 2012 hopefuls including ex-servicemen Tel Byrne and Jon-Allan Butterworth (both making World Championship debuts) who joined the GB Para-Cycling Team via the “Battle Back” programme – a tri-service initiative launched in 2008 to provide training and sporting opportunities for seriously injured personnel.
The three days of competition will see the world’s top riders battling it out in 3 and 4Km Pursuit, 500 and 1000m Time Trial, plus Sprint and Team Sprint – Cyclo wishes our UK team the very best of luck…