Paralympic Games: Gold again for Stone in road race defence

Published on 09/09/2012 02:26

Great Britain’s David Stone was thrilled to successfully defend his Paralympic Games title with victory in the mixed T1-2 road race at Brands Hatch.

The 31-year-old relinquished his time-trial title last Wednesday and was very disappointed with his bronze.

Stone, who has cerebral palsy and rides a tricycle, bounced back in the 24-kilometre road race to win his third Paralympic gold medal, seven seconds ahead of Italy’s Giorgio Farroni.

David Vondracek of the Czech Republic was three minutes 17 seconds behind in third.

“It was the best race of my life. It makes the win better as it wasn’t easy,” Stone said.

“I made my move, but the Italian (Farroni) stayed with me. It was so hard. It makes it better to win today because it was so disappointing not winning in the time-trial.

“Compared to Beijing, the competition was so much better, it’s good. It pushes me. It makes it a much better sport.”

Britain’s Lora Turnham and her pilot Fiona Duncan finished eighth in the women’s tandem road race.

Canada’s Robbi Weldon and her pilot Lyne Bessette won gold by 33secs from Spanish pair Josefa Benitez and Maria Noriega, with Holland’s Katherin Goeken and Kim van Dijk claiming bronze in a sprint for third place.

Turnham and Duncan were the final British cyclists to compete in the Games, leaving the hosts with a total of 22 medals, eight of them gold, across road and track.