Australia's AWD (Athlete's with a Disability) cyclists have wrapped up their track campaign at the UCI Para-Cycling World Championships in Bordeaux with an impressive seven gold, five silver and seven bronze medals for a tally of 19, the most of any nation. Great Britain topped the medal table with nine gold, one silver and 1 bronze for a total of 11 medals.
On the final day of track racing South Australian Angela Fleming produced a world record time in her win the LC2/CP4 women's 3km pursuit. It was clear the 39 year-old was in form when she slashed six seconds off her personal best to post the fastest qualifying time in the event she hasn't raced since 2005. Then in the final against American Jennifer Schuble, Fleming posted another world record in her gold medal ride, bringing the new mark to 4:12.851, half a second faster than that set by China's Ji Rong Wang at last year's Championships.
"I have absolutely no idea where that ride came from," said Fleming who earlier in the week claimed silver in the 500m time trial. "I haven't even been training for the pursuit because my focus has been on the time trial."
In the women's tandem category, defending 3km pursuit World Champion's Sydney's Lindy Hou and pilot Toireasa Gallagher took silver behind Great Britain's Aileen McGlynn and Ellen Hunter, while in the men's tandem sprint Newcastle's Ben Demery and pilot Shaun Hopkins collected silver with fellow Australians Kieran Modra and pilot Tyson Lawrence placing third.
Claire McLean took bronze in the LC1 women's 3km pursuit finals and newly crowned LC4 - CP3 500m time trial World Champion, Jane Armstrong, added bronze in the pursuit to her tally.
Attention now turns to four days of road events which begin on Friday.
Australian Team Track Results Summary:
Gold medals: Michael Gallagher individual pursuit (WR) and kilometre time trial (WR), Jane Armstrong 500m time trial, Chris Scott 4km individual pursuit, Greg Ball kilometre time trial, Kieran Modra and pilot Tyson Lawrence tandem pursuit (WR), Angela Fleming 3km individual pursuit (WR)
Silver medals: Angela Fleming 500m time trial, Felicity Johnson and pilot Katie Parker tandem sprint, Ben Demery and pilot Shaun Hopkins kilometre time trial and sprint, Lindy Hou and pilot Toireasa Gallagher tandem pursuit
Bronze medals: Lindy Hou and pilot Toireasa Gallagher tandem sprint, Chris Scott kilometre time trial, Trent Deacon kilometre time trial and individual pursuit, Kieran Modra and pilot Tyson Lawrence tandem sprint, Jane Armstrong 3km individual pursuit, Claire McLean 3km individual pursuit
