Lynch in Gold Medal Final in Pursuit at Track World Championships

Colin Lynch stormed into the Gold Medal Final of the Men's C2 Pursuit at the Paracycling Track World Championships, with a new National Record of 3.46.793. He will meet the reigning Paralympic Champion from China, Guihua Liang in the Gold medal ride off. Liang qualified with the faster time of 3.45.744, but with 1 second separating the two, this will be a tight battle for Gold. Ireland's Enda Smyth was also in action today, finishing the Men's C3 Pursuit in a time of 3.40.297, which put him outside the medals, his final position will be posted later.

Lynch is the reigning World Champion in the Men's C2 3km Pursuit, having won it in 2012. With this being the first major Track Cycling event since the Paralympic Games it was always going to be an intense race. By making the Gold Medal Final, Lynch is now guaranteed either Gold or Silver.

Speaking after the qualifying rounds Paracycling Coach Neill Delahaye said "Colin was second fastest in the heats, and got a new national record in doing so. He'll meet the Chinese rider in the final. The track is running slower this morning with a lower air pressure, and the temperature at 23 degrees. For the final it is going to be a lot faster and hotter. This is going to be an exciting final!"

Temperatures rose to 41.9 degrees in the Velodrome yesterday, affecting the timetable of racing. Lynch is due to compete for gold at approximately 12.30 tonight.
Later today the male and female tandems will be in action in the 1km Time Trial. They finished 4th and 5th respectively yesterday in the Pursuit. The competition takes place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, between April 10th and 12th.