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Road to 2012 – Para-Cycling Track World Championships, Italy

Montichari (Italy)  11-13 March 2011 | Story posted March 8, 2011

Pre-Competition 

Riders and staff on the Great Britain Para-Cycling Team arrived in Montichari, Italy, on Monday afternoon for the 2011 Para-Cycling World Track Championships.  It was an early start for the team on their first full day in Italy as athletes headed to the Velodrome after their first Italian breakfast.

The team arrive at Verona airport on Monday afternoon.

The mechanics spent the morning preparing track bikes while the athletes, including a number of Paralympic Champions from Beijing 2008, went on a morning road ride on their team Pinarellos before heading for the track to get their first ride on the Baltic pine boards of the Montichiari venue. The 250 metre velodrome has short straights and long bankings that, according to Barney Storey, make the tandem feel more stable at speed.

After a short briefing, riders quickly got up to speed before forming a long line on the track for their 30 lap warm up. Each athlete then went through tried and tested drills to test not just the shape of the track but also their own form at the end of a taper period before what is a huge performance target for the team.

With 16 riders, the mechanics are kept busy preparing the bikes for the first training session in Italy.

Sharing the track with the GB riders were others from New Zealand and Ireland. With so many riders all trying to get in as many efforts in as possible, the GB Cycling Team was working overtime to make the most of its allotted 90 minutes.

Back in the GB pen, with the training done, riders reached out for the CNP bars and rehydrated on Gatorade before changing into warmer clothing and jumping back on their bikes for the short journey back to the hotel in bright sunshine.  With the first day on the Italian track done, the GB Para-Cycling Team relaxed, recovered and debriefed at the hotel.

The tandems lead the way during the warm-up for the riders in the GB Cycling Team.

Day 1 Photo Album