Location: Roskilde, Denmark
Event: 8-11 September 2011
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Day 3, Para-Cycling Road World Championships - Handbike Road Race and Bike Road Race
British women impressed on Day 3 of the Para-Cycling Road World Championships with Sarah Storey defending her world title in the C5 Road Race and Rachel Morris, Karen Darke and Crystal Lane picking up bronze medals. Simon Price also won bronze for GB in the C2 Road Race.
Sarah Storey rode a very good, tactical race, leading more or less from the start with Poland's Anna Harkowska tucked in closely behind. It was a dramatic sprint finish with Sarah winning by less than a second. Storey's young teammate Crystal Lane came third just 52 seconds later behind the race leaders.
Storey said "We briefly talked last night about how the race might go and I said to Crystal I think (Poland's) Anna will be really impatient and she was and the other girls will mark me which they did so when we're in that situation, just let them do all the work and take your chance at the end.
"I thought today worked out really well and I was really chuffed when I saw Crystal coming up the home straight. It bodes really well for next year and the future."
Lane reflected: "It was good for me to come here and find out where I really am. Today has really tested me, it certainly wasn't easy. I usually do too much work at the front and tire myself out but I conserved my energy and rode a tactical race."
In the Handbike Road Race, Karen Darke finished 3rd in a very competitive H2 class, just 34 seconds behind USA's Mariana Davis and less than 4 minutes behind the race leader Switzerland's Ursula Schwaller.
"It was crucial for me to podium today. If I hadn't, I wouldn't be in the mix for London next year, so it's a big relief. I got a solid bronze and I'm closing the gap on my opponents but there's still a lot of work to do to be in with a chance for gold next year. But I'm definitely going to give it a go."
Rachel Morris, who has had a challenging build up to Denmark after dislocating her shoulder three weeks ago, failed to defend her world title in the H3 class and looked set to finish fourth until the final lap when she passed New Zeland's Susan Reid to pick up a bronze medal.
"I had very mixed feelings coming here after my accident, knowing I'm not where I want to be but I had to give it a go. I was in pain and I was seeing black dots in front of my eyes on the final lap so it was an all out effort to get to the finish line. Making the podium today means a lot!"
Simon Price proved he is a class bike rider and lead a tough Men's Road Race for two laps. He was eventually passed by more experienced riders but made a great debut for GB at the worlds by riding a tactically astute race that earned him a bronze medal.
GB Medal Tally:
Gold
Women's C5 Time Trial - Sarah Storey
Women's C5 Road Race - Sarah Storey
Silver
Men's C1 Time Trial - Mark Colbourne
Men's T2 Time Trial - David Stone
Bronze
Men's C3 Time Trial - Shaun McKeown
Women's H2 Time Trial - Karen Darke
Women's H2 Road Race - Karen Darke
Women's H3 Road Race - Rachel Morris
Women's C5 Road Race - Crystal Lane
Men's C2 Road Race - Simon Price
