Thornhill breaks world record as British success continues

A world record, rainbow jersey and women’s B 1km time trial gold all in one day – Sophie Thornhill wasn’t joking when talking about the mutual love she shares with Rio.

The Paralympic champion returned to the scene of her crowning moment two years ago to do it all over again in Brazil, helping the Great Britain team to another medal-filled day at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships.

It’s a track they must wish they could race at every day but for now they’ll happily settle for world gold, with Thornhill among those hopeful of boxing up the boards and taking them away for the rest of the year.

Neil Fachie joined her in celebrating gold, as did Crystal Lane-Wright, with the Great Britain gold tally sitting at eight with one day of action still remaining.

Few can be labelled as impressive as Thornhill’s however.

Alongside Helen Scott, the 22-year-old ensured the world record she herself set when a teenager with Rachel James would not last the distance – cast to one side by nearly a second as they stopped the clock in 1:05.079, even allowing for a reduced pace in the last lap.

Even Thornhill herself was surprised at just how emphatic the win was.

“We knew we were going very well we just didn’t expect to beat it by that much,” she said after finishing nearly three seconds ahead of the field.

“Usually we have a sense of the time, but not this time around. This track has been really good to us”

Fachie is well-versed in donning the rainbow jersey but the impact of this particular glory was not lost in Rio.

Two years ago the 34-year-old had to settle for Paralympic silver on the same track but on the world stage he was not to be denied. The final scoreboard will tell you that and more.

No pair were quicker than he and Matt Rotherham, indeed their B 1km time trial effort of 59.686 was the only one sub-60 seconds after eclipsing speeds of 60kmh.

By less than half a second they missed out on a world record – Fachie’s own, in fact, alongside Peter Mitchell – but Mitchell himself had cause to celebrate as he and James Ball superbly rode themselves to second place.

The gold rush had already long begun for the British team, Lane-Wright opening up the day in perfect style with victory in the women’s 3km individual pursuit.

Laying down the fastest time in qualification was only the start, getting better and better as racing continued to overcome Nicole Murray of New Zealand by more than five seconds come the finish line.

From starting the success to rounding off the night, the double Paralympic medallist from Rio had the chance of another place on the podium.

This time however she had to settle for fifth place in the scratch race, though the smile-inducing performance from earlier in the day was still there for all to see.

Alongside Ball and Mitchell came another British silver thanks to Jon Gildea, just unable to hold off the challenge of Ukraine’s Yehor Dementyev after a storming run took him to the men’s C5 4km individual pursuit gold-medal race.

And there was also time for a bronze to be added to the collection, Jaco van Gass the man to take his place on the podium in the C4 4km individual pursuit.

With 15 medals to their name this is already a World Championships that will live long in the memory of the Great Britain Cycling Team.

But their medal push is far from done just yet, with one more day to come in Rio as Paralympic and world champions alike look to cement their place atop the medal table.