Paralympics: Foy, Thompson pedalling for gold

Para-cyclists Laura Thompson (left) and Dargaville's Emma Foy will be gunning for gold at the Rio Paralympics on their tandem bike. Photo/Getty Images

As far as Paralympic medal hopes go, Emma Foy and Laura Thompson are as good as it gets.

The Para-Cyclists, three-time world champions in the Tandem 3km Pursuit, will be looking to add Paralympic gold to their excessive list of accomplishments.

The pair have been finalising their preparations in Toronto, and Foy is very pleased with how they are tracking.

"So far our preparations have been great. We spent a month in Canada in June doing our endurance work and are now back in Canada doing our final track preparations before we head to Rio," she said.

"We have a few tricks up our sleeve - through our talented support staff - with equipment innovation so we are looking forward to using these things at the games also."

The Foy-Thompson combination only came together in 2014 but they had immediate success, setting a world record time at the 2014 UCI Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Mexico.

Thompson said while the pursuit is their main focus, it's not their only target.

"The other event we have been really training for is the 30km road time trial, it is a flat course so the training for the two events compliment each other," she said.

Whilst it is still a fairly new partnership, Thompson said they are a fantastic match.

"We have a lot of trust in our relationship both on and off the bike. Emma trusts me to handle to bike at 90kmph going down hill for a start which is pretty difficult thing to do," she said.

"We both also have really high expectations of ourselves and eachother to ensure we never get complacent and keep pusing the bar out. We also make sure we always have a ot of fun especailly as we get closer to Rio."

Foy, who is visually impaired, is the 'stoker', sitting at the back of the bike, while Thompson is the 'sighted pilot', up front.

Thompson said however that there are a lot of difficulties while they race.

"So many...where to start? We find that communication is really important especially with Emma not being able to see what is happening being visually impaired," she said.

"I talk to her throughout the races and she has become very good at anticiapting what is going to happen by how I am riding and the things I am doing. The biggest challenge always remains fighting through the pain barrier to go faster."

They both are excited for the event, taking place at the same venues used for the recently completed Summer Olympics.

"Being in the village environment at the paralympic games is a pretty amazing experience," Foy said.

"We are both looking forward to being amongst the atmosphere of the games and surrounded by a group of such adaptable and talented human beings. Also, watching our fellow New Zealanders compete will be great."

The Paralympics run from September 7-18.