Paris 2024 Flash Quotes: Dame Sarah Storey

Comments from ParalympicsGB cyclist Dame Sarah Storey following her gold medal in the Women’s C4-5 road race with a time of 1:54:24.

Age: 46

Hometown: Disley, Manchester

On how it feels:

“It’s amazing. Really amazing, it has not sunk at all, I’m just thankful that my wheel was in front at the finish.”

On the finish:

“The lap before, a coach of hers shouted from the other side of the road ‘next lap on the left’. So I had a look where we were to make we were ready for that. He shouted ‘go’ and I went too. Heidi took a little bit of a gap which is fine because that’s a big acceleration that she made. I had a little bit of speed because I was trying to pre-empt it. It was just a matter of holding her while she continued her acceleration, it was a long way out. It was the only tactic she could use because I have the fastest sprint. When we were together in that final corner that’s when she unleashed it. She tried to come again I think as I had my head down, I could see furiously pedalling through my bike.”

On Heidi Gaugain’s attack:

“The key is not to be afraid to lose a bike race. I’m not afraid to lose a bike race, I have to trust myself and not over-think things and just go on instinct sometimes, that’s about racing. No, I just wanted to see what I had to respond. You put yourself out there every time you get on the start line and I keep doing that, and keep finding ways to win a bike race so long may that continue.”

On LA 2028:

“Who knows. I need to enjoy this first. Never say never to anything. This just needs to sink in because it was one of the most exciting races that we’ve had and from the word go it was full gas.”