Aberdeen’s Neil Fachie completed a hat-trick of gold medals in front of a home crowd after producing another night to remember at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.
Fachie claimed his 19th world title after he and pilot Matt Rotherham teamed with Elizabeth Jordan and her pilot Amy Cole to win the mixed B team sprint final at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
Following two laps from Jordan and Cole, 39 year-old Fachie and Rotherham powered home in 49.992 ahead of Italy on 51.264.
It was Fachie and Rotherham’s third gold of the championships and he seems intent on adding to his remarkable career tally in 2024.
A delighted Fachie told the BBC: “Just the 19, it’s not bad is it?
“Winning my first was amazing and I never imagined hitting double figures never mind almost hitting the 20 mark.
“I’ve said before it’s an annoying number and you feel as if you have to come back for 20.”
Turning to his pilot Rotherham Fachie asked: “So, next year, do you fancy it again? Another one or two?”
Rotherham thrilled at claiming another gold
For Rotherham, the third gold of the event was an extra special one given the team’s lack of experience.
Fachie’s pilot said: “Tandem team sprint is not one of those events we really focus on. We’ve had a bit of practice but the ride was probably the fourth one we’ve done.
“You learn round by round and training effort by training effort. We got a nice gap and created a bit of speed and it worked out quite nice.
“The change was pretty close but we didn’t lose any time and it was good to get it all out in the race.”
STUNNING, SIMPLY STUNNING!! 🤩@neilfachie, @mattrotherham, Lizzi Jordan & Amy Cole wrap up the Mixed B Team Sprint in Glasgow! #GlasgowScotland2023 | #PowerOfTheBikepic.twitter.com/iZTP89BLeU
— 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (@CyclingWorlds) August 8, 2023
Team member Jordan echoed Rotherham’s sentiment when she said: “It’s fantastic. It’s so nice to team up with your team-mates. We haven’t done a world championships before so it’s just been an incredible experience.
Jordan’s pilot Cole added: It’s such a great event. To do it at my first world championships with Lizzi and the boys is just incredible. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved.”
Disappointment for Evans in women’s elite points race
There was disappointment for defending champion Neah Evans as she finished fifth in the women’s elite points race.
Evans, who claimed gold in the women’s elite madison with team-mate Elinor Barker on Monday, started brightly by taking the maximum five points in the first sprint and added two points in sprints two and five before adding another 20 points for gaining a lap.
But the Cuminestown rider lost the 20 points she gained, as did Lily Williams of the United States to leave Evans in the bronze medal position in the closing stages.
However, Tsuyaka Uchino of Japan gained 10 points in the final sprint to finish on 14 points overall and knock Evans, who finished on nine points, out of the medal positions as she claimed bronze.
Lotte Kopecky of Belgium took gold on 39 points ahead of Georgia Baker of Australia on 31.
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