Strathpeffer cyclist set to hit the road in bid for more Paralympic medals

FIN Graham says he will look for more medal success on the road after winning a silver medal in the C3 3000 Metres Individual Pursuit at the Paralympic Games in Paris.

The Strathpeffer cyclist reached the final of the event on Friday afternoon in the velodrome, but was unable to defeat defending champion and British teammate Jaco Van Gass.

Now Graham (24) is set to hit the road in his quest for medal success this week.

On Wednesday, he will compete in the Men’s C3 Individual Time Trial and the Men’s C3 Road Race on Saturday, September 7.

Graham won a silver medal in the road race and just missed out on a medal in the individual time trial three years ago at the Paralympics in Tokyo.

He is looking for podium finishes in both races next week.

Graham said: “That is me done for the track now.

“I have got the time trial on the road, I will put in some longer efforts, it is a bit different to the pursuit. I missed out on a medal in Tokyo by under three seconds in the time trial. Hopefully I will be able to turn that around and get on the podium

“As it has been proved, the Paralympics is the one everyone wants to win. It is the toughest event and you have to be on the top of your form to come away with a medal, let alone gold.”

“It is a good experience and we will see what happens in the coming days.”

At the velodrome on Friday, Graham Graham broke the world record for the individual pursuit during the heats with a time of 3:17.14.

But he only held the world record for a matter of minutes as Van Gass regained his world record in the following heat in a time of 3:15.48.

In a repeat of the Paralympic final three years ago in Tokyo, Graham finished the final in second place in a time of three minutes 22.540 seconds.

Van Gass successfully retained his gold medal in the event, winning in a time of 3:18.460.

Graham says he had no complaints with the result in the final as he congratulated Van Gass on his successful defence.

He said: “It was a carbon copy to Tokyo, I go out and broke a world record and I get five minutes of fame before Jaco has taken it off me.

“Jaco is the one to beat, he is the reigning world champion and he was Paralympic champion in Tokyo. He is able to peak at the right time.

“In this event there is no hiding, the strongest man on the day wins and today that was Jaco.

“I wasn’t quite able to take gold, but I will try again in the road races.”

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