UCI Para Cycling Track Worlds
After three medals in the opening three days of the Championships in Apeldoorn, Fin Graham was keen to claim his first gold in the scratch race on Sunday – his last opportunity of the week to claim an individual rainbow jersey.
Graham led for the opening laps of the 10km race, shadowed closely by the man who had won every men’s C3 race so far this championship, Kiwi Devon Briggs.
With 30 laps to go, Alexandre Hayward (CAN) attacked, creating a sizeable gap to the bunch. Graham worked well together with teammate Jacob Smith in the chasing group to try and catch the Canadian. With 15 laps to go, Hayward retired, meaning Smith and Graham led the race, alongside Briggs and Eduardo Santas Asensio of Spain.
With no one looking likely to pounce, Graham swooped down underneath the others from the top of the banking to attack with three laps to go. Briggs and Smith followed, with the Kiwi sprinter powering towards Graham.
But Graham had enough in reserve to hold onto the win, taking his fourth medal and first gold of this championship.
The week’s medals started for Graham on Thursday in the new sprint event, with the Highlander qualifying for the semi-finals with Graham in third in 11.656 seconds over the Flying 200m.
Despite an early attack from Alexandre Hayward (CAN), Graham took control of his semi-final on the final lap and powered into the final. In the final, Graham, typically an endurance racer, took the fight to the antipodean duo of Briggs and Maxwell Sudholz early on. Leading for the first two laps, the Scot attempted to cover Briggs and Sudholz, but was eventually overtaken by his competitors and settled for a brilliant bronze medal.
Friday’s saw the kilometre time trial, a strong showing in qualifying saw Graham place fourth with a time of 1:09.676.
Looking to emulate his medal success from the previous day, Graham flew through the first lap of the final. Composing a consistent and steady run, the Scottish athlete took one second out of his qualifying time to finish in a time of 1:08.574. Graham knew he was guaranteed a medal when German Manuel Korber failed to better his time, taking another bronze medal – his second of the week.
The weekend saw the bunch races with the new elimination race taking centre stage on Saturday afternoon. After a steady start, which saw Graham sitting comfortably in second place for most of the opening laps, the Scottish rider unfortunately fell five minutes in. Nevertheless, Graham brushed himself off and rejoined the race, resuming his battle for a medal.
With three riders left, including sprinter Briggs, Graham broke away to form a sizeable gap. The New Zealander upped the pace, outsprinting Graham on the final straight, with the Scot taking silver.
Following on from Sunday victory in the scratch race, Graham also tried his hand in the C1-5 mixed team sprint alongside Kadeena Cox and Jody Cundy, with the trio qualifying second -their time of 49.929 seconds sent them to the gold medal final.
The Australian trio, comprising of two individual sprint world champions, were their opponents in the final. Cox flew out the blocks, putting down an incredible first lap to give the British team a 0.5 second advantage. The Australians proved too strong, beating the British trident to the line – however it would be enough for a fifth medal of the week for Graham – adding to his exceptional palmares which includes 29 World Championship medals at just 27 years old.
Jenny Holl & Sophie Unwin would be on form again on the tandem all week.
Gold in the tandem sprint as well a brace of silvers in the Kilometre and individual pursuit made for an excellent week for the duo.
BMX Champs
Saturday saw the Scottish National BMX Championships take place at Broadwood BMX Track, hosted by Cumbernauld Centurions.
Brodie Geddes (Cumbernauld Centurions) bested clubmate Cooper McCrum and Rhys Dougan (Western Titans) to take the 15-16 Open title, with Lewis Cook winning out from Callum Fleming and Alexander Ferns in an all-Centurion 17-29 open podium.
Ruby Warren (Western Titans) continued her excellent season, winning the Female 13-14 title from Elizabeth Graham (Cumbernauld Centurions) with Holly Diver (Western Titans) taking the bronze. Centurion Fergus Souter won the 13-14 open title from Movement Park’s Lucas Watson, with Finlay Shaw of the host club rounding out the podium.
The 11-12 podium a lock out with Aston L., Euan S. and Cillian T. taking the podium slots for the Broadwood club.
Photo: Louis T Moorehead (Open | Female)
Cyclocross
Knockburn Loch was the venue for the third round of the HUPcc Scottish Cyclocross Series on Sunday.
British Champion Anna Flynn (Handsling-Alba) won out in Aberdeenshire, taking the senior female race victory. Patrick Kiehlmann won the senior open race round the Loch.
Emie Smith (Stirling BC) and Angus Dowens (West Lothian) claimed the Youth race wins, while there were junior wins for Scottish Champion Emma Campbell and Lewis MacAusland.
Full Report and Results will be up on our social channels soon.
Cameron Mason (777TV) finished fifth at the historic Koppenbergcross in Oudanaarde on Sunday. The Scot battled a train of Pauwels riders to ride to a top five finish, despite by his own admission not feeling his very best.