Sarah Storey Triumphs Over Heidi Gaugain to Secure Gold at Para-Cycling World Championships

Sarah Storey claimed gold in the women’s C4-C5 individual time trial at the 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships in Switzerland, defeating her Paralympic rival Heidi Gaugain. Storey, 46, completed the challenging 29.9 km course in 45 minutes and 25 seconds, finishing a remarkable one minute and 36 seconds ahead of France’s Gaugain. This victory marks Storey’s 38th Para world title and serves as a successful defense of her title, having won the same event in Glasgow last year.

“I was really chuffed with how I hit out,” Storey commented on her performance. “The course was so much fun, and I was glad I had the legs to deliver.”

In the women’s B individual time trial, Ireland’s Katie-George Dunlevy, alongside pilot Linda Kelly, also celebrated victory, finishing with a time of 43 minutes and 14 seconds. British teams secured second and third places, with Sophie Unwin and pilot Jenny Holl taking second, and Lora Fachie with pilot Corrine Hall finishing third.

In the concurrent Road World Championships, Australia’s Grace Brown dominated the women’s elite individual time trial, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Demi Vollering from the Netherlands, while Great Britain’s Anna Henderson placed seventh.

In the men’s individual time trial, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel emerged victorious, finishing six seconds ahead of Italy’s Filippo Ganna. Great Britain’s Josh Tarling finished in fourth place, one minute and 18 seconds behind Evenepoel.