GB cyclists top medals table

Great Britain’s cyclists topped the final medal table at the Open European Paralympic Cycling Championships with a remarkable haul of 17 medals, including 10 golds.

The GB team rounded off the competition in Holland with some tremendous performances on the road to follow-up their successes in the track events.

David Stone led the way, taking gold medals in both the CP2 24.6km road race and in the 8.2km time trial. It is the first time the 24-year-old Worcester cyclist, a student at Brighton University, has competed internationally in tricycle events.

Sarah Bailey – a four times Paralympic swimmer - followed up her outstanding cycling debut on the track with a brace of medals on the road. She won gold in the women’s LC1 41km road race and took bronze in the 16.4km time trial.

Ian Sharpe and his sighted pilot Paul Hunter were also good shape, taking silver in the 24.6km blind and visually-impaired time trial.

There was also a silver for double Paralympic gold medallist Darren Kenny, who finished runner-up to his Spanish arch rival, Javier Ochoa, in the CP3 time trial.

Great Britain topped the open medal table at the European Championships from Australia, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.

Dave Mellor, Performance Manager of Disability Cycling at British Cycling, said: “It’s been an unprecedented success and shows what you can achieve with talented athletes, good coaching and support staff.”

Great Britain had another outstandingly successful summer Games at Athens 2004, finishing second in the overall medals table behind China and winning 94 medals – 35 golds, 30 silvers and 29 bronzes.

The British Paralympic Association is sponsored by easynet and Visa, and is also supported by lottery funding through UK Sport.

For further information about the British Paralympic Association contact: The British Paralympic Association's Press Office at Matchtight Ltd on (01225) 383518 or by email at comms@matchtight.co.uk, or see the BPA website at www.paralympics.org.uk