Paralympics GB has announced the selected riders who will represent ParalympicsGB at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
A total of 17 riders have been selected to compete, including six who will be making their Paralympic debuts. There are also three Paralympic newcomers among the six pilots who will be competing at Paris 2024.
After their most successful Paralympic Games ever, which saw them bring home 24 medals from Tokyo, with every rider winning a medal, this year’s squad boasts a stacked lineup of seven reigning Paralympic champions across the road and track events in Paris.
In the women’s events, Dame Sarah Storey is set to return for a remarkable ninth Paralympic Games – the most number of appearances ever for a British athlete. Having chosen to focus on the road events, she will be looking to defend the titles she has held for the past three Games in the C5 time-trial and C4-5 road race.
Dame Sarah Storey said, “Competing in nine Games is a dream I didn’t ever have. As a teenager I wanted to be an athlete for as long as I possibly could, but always assumed I’d be too old by 46! I’ve got such a great support around me, led by my brilliant husband Barney and am very excited to pull on ParalympicsGB kit again.”
Joining her is familiar face Kadeena Cox, who will be hoping to continue her sprint dominance on the track in the individual C4-5 500m time-trial and the mixed team sprint.
Competing at the Paralympic Games for the first time, reigning C2 individual pursuit world champion Daphne Schrager will race in the C1-3 individual pursuit on the track, while fellow debutant Fran Brown contests the C1-3 500m time-trial. Both riders will compete in the C1-2 road race and time-trial in the first week of the event.
Daphne Schrager said, “I am so excited for my first games; it’s going to be incredible experience and a phenomenal team environment to be part of. I am excited to show my best performances on the biggest stage and capitalise on my medal potential, let’s go!”
In the women’s B events, Paralympics GB boasts incredible strength in depth, as defending individual pursuit champion Lora Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall return for their third Paralympic Games. Having taken a silver and a bronze medal at their first Games in Tokyo, Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl will be looking to top off a stellar three years with Paralympic gold.
Meanwhile, debutants Lizzie Jordan and pilot Danni Khan will be looking to make their mark in Paris after taking three world titles in their first track event together earlier this year. All three pairings will compete in the road race and time-trial after competing at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome where they will contest the 1,000m time-trial and individual pursuit events.
Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE said, “I am incredibly excited for every one of the 23 riders that have been selected to represent ParalympicsGB this summer in Paris. We are blessed with so much incredible talent across the programme, so just being selected is an incredible achievement that each athlete should be proud of.
“The strength and depth across our team is unmatched. We have Dame Sarah Storey and Jody Cundy competing at their ninth and eighth Games respectively, plus new talent including Archie Atkinson and Lizzie Jordan who are ready to show the world what they can achieve.
“ParalympicsGB has a strong history of cycling success at the Paralympic Games and I am confident that this Games will continue that trend of medal-winning performances to hopefully inspire those watching at home to get on a bike and find the joy of cycling.”
Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB at Paris 2024 added, “I’m delighted to be able to welcome such a stellar group of athletes to the ParalympicsGB team for Paris 2024. Our cycling squads have a proven track record of success on the international stage and I have no doubt they will do us proud once again this summer!”
ParalympicsGB women’s cycling squad:
Women’s B
Lora Fachie (Liverpool) piloted by Corrine Hall (Mitcham, London) – WB 1,000m time-trial, WB individual pursuit, WB time-trial, WB road race
Lizzi Jordan (Guildford, Surrey) piloted by Danni Khan (Solihull, West Midlands) – WB 1,000m time-trial, WB individual pursuit, WB time-trial, WB road race
Sophie Unwin (Devon) piloted by Jenny Holl (Blair Drummond, Scotland) – WB 1,000m time-trial, WB individual pursuit, WB time-trial, WB road race
Women’s C1
Fran Brown (Truro, Cornwall) – C1-3 500m time-trial, C1-3 road race, C1-3 time-trial
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Women’s C2
Daphne Schrager (Malmesbury, Wiltshire) – C1-3 individual pursuit, C1-3 road race, C1-3 time-trial
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Women’s C4
Kadeena Cox (Leeds) – C4-5 500m time-trial, mixed team sprint
Women’s C5
Dame Sarah Storey (Disley, Manchester) – C5 time-trial, C4-5 road race
