Cycling: Foy secures world gold

Former Dargaville paralympic cyclist Emma Foy and sighted pilot Laura Thompson with Jono Hailstone, head performance coach, Para-Cycling, after winning a gold medal in the Women's B 3km Pursuit at the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Italy. Photo / Paralympics New Zealand

Northland para-cyclist Emma Foy has come away from the UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Italy with a gold medal.

Foy, formerly of Dargaville, won the rainbow jersey in the Women's B 3km Pursuit with sighted pilot Laura Thompson for New Zealand's only gold medal of the games.

Thompson and Foy (rear) in their gold medal winning race.

The tandem pairing of Foy and Thompson defended their World Championship title for the second consecutive year.

"We are really happy to have defended our 3orld title again this year. Our campaign to this event has been a bit challenging, which makes today's performance even more satisfying," Foy said.

"This is the first track world champs that we have competed at with our new coach Jono Hailstone and we are very pleased with the dynamic we have found as a team. The track world champs are important with it being a Paralympic year and we are looking forward to continuing to push forward for a big 2016."

The pair rode a very strong final to convincingly beat the Japanese tandem of Yurie Kanuma and Mai Tanaka (sighted pilot).

Hailstone, head performance coach with Para-Cycling, said: "It was great to see Emma and Laura defend their world title for the second time. They have had to overcome a few challenges as well as changes within the PNZ Para-Cycling programme this season so to retain their world title with a comfortable buffer over their nearest competition is testament to their resilience and strong work ethic, and is a great confidence booster six months out from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games."

Foy and Thompson also came fourth in the BW 1km Time Trial with a personal best.
Waipu para-cyclist athlete Fiona Southorn came seventh, in the C5 3km Pursuit at the championship as well as eight in the C5 10km Scratch Race; ninth in the C5 500m Time Trial and 10th in the C1-C5 Team Sprint.

The team from the track world champs arrives back in Auckland tomorrow.