News Story Date : 27 August, 2009

Sarah Storey OBE has won a gold and a silver this week at the World Masters Road Championships

Sarah Storey OBE has won a gold and a silver this week at the World Masters Road Championships, being held in St Johann in Tirol, Austria.

The 31 year old, from Manchester, took gold in the 30-39 year age group Road Time Trial on Wednesday, smashing the course record in the process. Following on from the impressive win, Sarah also added the silver medal in the 30-39 year age group Road Race, which was held on Thursday.

Talking from her hotel in a part of Austria that is perhaps better known for it’s incredible ski resorts, Sarah said, “I am thrilled to have made the podium for both my events here as I am using the competition as a stepping stone towards the Paracycling World Road Championships being held in North-west Italy in two weeks time.”

Racing in GB colours and supported by British Cycling team staff, Sarah attended the Championships, off the back of a hard road training camp, with the goal of making the podium in the Road Time Trial and using the Road Race to practice some tactical options ahead of the Paracycling World Championships.

“I was thrilled to break the course record in the Road Time Trial and also beat the winner and record holder of the last few years into silver in the process,” Sarah said. “The whole ride just felt fantastic, especially when you consider I am in the middle of a hard phase of training.”

“The Road Race was perhaps even more of a surprise, as I am so inexperienced at racing in the bunch at this level, but I managed to create the six girl break at the top of the first climb and we stayed away. And it was from this group that the medals were decided.”

“I’m not known for my ability in the sprint, but I managed to time my run into the finish and almost snatched it on the line.”

Sarah was beaten on the line by the fast finishing 37 year old Italian, Michela Gorini, but managed to hold off last year’s winner, 36 year old American Leslie Jennings who took bronze.

Sarah will now stay out in Italy for another Road Race on Sunday and then heads straight back to the UK for her final preparation race at the British Time Trial Championships on Sunday 6th September.

The Paracycling Road World Championships, where Sarah contests two events [Road Time Trial and Road Race] start on Thursday 10th September in Bogogno, Italy and will run until Sunday 13th September.