Stone takes final British cycling gold of London 2012

David Stone and family, London 2012 Paralympic Games, road day one

David Stone took Great Britain's last cycling gold of London 2012 after he successfully defended his title in the Mixed T1-2 road race at Brands Hatch this morning.

Stone held off breakaway companion Giorgio Farroni (Italy) after the pair attacked the peloton in the early stages of the 24km race.

Having led the way in the Velodrome, success across the four days of road events means that Great Britain top the combined cycling medal table for the second successive Paralympics. The 22 medals (eight gold, nine silver and five bronze) won across track and road events is two more than the haul from Beijing four years ago.

The final gold was 31-year-old Stone's second medal of these Games; on Wednesday he had to settle for bronze in the Mixed T1-2 Time Trial, a race he also entered as defending champion.

Stone eluded to the frustration of not defending that title when speaking after today's victory.

"It was the best race of my life. It makes it better to win today because it was so disappointing not winning in the time-trial," he said. "Compared to Beijing, the competition was so much better, it's good. It pushes me. It makes it a much better sport."

The final British riders to compete in these Paralympics were tandem duo Lora Turnham and Fiona Duncan, who ended their Games début with a eighth-place finish in the Women's B road race. Canada's Robbi Weldon and Lyne Bessette took the gold, with the Brits coming in just four seconds off bronze.

They will be bitterly disappointed not to have won a medal in their four events: Turnham and Duncan finished fourth in both the Pursuit and Time Trial in the Velodrome, having been beaten to bronze in the former by Britain's other tandem pair of Aileen McGlynn and Helen Scott.

They looked on course for gold in Thursday's time trial at Brands Hatch, before they suffered mechanical problems at the back end of the race.

Results

London 2012 Paralympic Games: road day four, Brands Hatch

Mixed T1-2 Road Race

1. David Stone (GBr) 24km in 45-17

2. Giorgio Farroni (Ita) at 0-07

3. David Vondracek (Cze) at 3-17

Women's B Road Race

1. Robbi Weldon w/Lyne Bessette (Can) 80km in 2-08.56

2. Josefa Benitez Guzman w/Maria Noreiga (Spa) at 0-33

3. Kathrin Goeken w/Kim van Dijk (Ned) 4-30

Brits

8. Lora Turnham w/Fiona Duncan (GBr) 4-34

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Reports

Road day three: Bronze for Morris in hand cycling road race

Road day two: Storey becomes most decorated British Paralympian

Road day one: Another gold for Storey in time trial

Track day four: Tandem sprint gold for Kappes and MacLean

Track day three: Sarah and Barney Storey lead the headlines in the velodrome

Track day two: Colbourne takes gold, Cundy is disqualified in day of mixed fortunes for GB

Track day one: Storey takes gold

Photos

Road day two by Andy Jones

Road day one by Andy Jones

Track day three (afternoon) by Andy Jones

Track day three (morning) by Andy Jones

Track day two (afternoon) by Andy Jones

Track day two (morning) by Andy Jones

Track day one (afternoon) by Andy Jones

Track day one (morning) by Andy Jones

Schedule of events

London 2012 Paralympics cycling event schedule

Related links

London 2012 Olympic Games coverage index

 

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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.