Comments from Paralympics GB cyclists following this afternoon’s session.
Matthew Robertson
Result: Bronze medal in the men’s C2 3000m individual pursuit
Age: 25
Hometown: Kent
“I didn't feel incredible on the bike because this is so hard but I feel incredible now. This is the culmination of so much hard work and I can't tell you how special it is to be standing here with a medal.
“I just missed out on selection for Tokyo and it was really hard watching the guys on television, I wanted to be there and experiencing it so much. Now I've got my moment too.
On his road traffic accident in 2022:
“When I was in that hospital bed I said to my coach I didn't want to do this anymore, I was done, I wasn't even thinking about coming to the Paralympics.
“The recovery took eight months but I never stopped working during that time doing everything I could to get back to fitness. This is what all that hard work is for, standing on that podium and seeing your flag going up.”
Blaine Hunt
Result: Silver medal in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial
Age: 35
Hometown: London
On his silver:
“It's just incredible, I'm trying to breathe and not get too emotional. I've loved racing in front of this crowd with my mates and the silver medal is just a byproduct of that.
“All credit to Korey [Boddington who got gold], I didn't think he'd back it up what he did in qualifying and it's absolutely incredible to do that.
“The levels in this sport are just incredible, the sport is being pushed on and on and it's just amazing to be part of it. We are all spurring each other on.”
On his trademark moustache:
“I'm often asked how long it took to grow and the answer is 35 years. I'm a cyclist, of course it had to be handlebars. I did it for a night out and I got plenty of attention but I'm married now.”
Jody Cundy
Result: Fourth in the men’s C4-5 1000m time trial
Age: 45
Hometown: Wisbech
“It's mixed emotions, you give it everything and then three lads just beat you. I gave it everything but I had nothing to even walk off the track with, sadly I just didn't have quite enough in me.
“When I finished that race I felt 45 years old. Most of the time I feel really in myself and age doesn't feel like a barrier. It does get harder and harder and you need more time to recover but I'm still in the top four in the world.
“We've got a competition that is so competitive now. Jason Queally won the Olympics in 2000 in a time that was virtually the same as the medallists here. The progression of the sport, the level of the racing is just fabulous, I feel like I've done my part to lay the benchmarks, now I've got to keep chasing everyone else.”
On medalling at every Paralympics (he competes in team sprint on Sunday):
“I'm not putting that as a stat on my career, I'll just try to perform at the level, I'm capable of doing.
“If we all come together then we've got quite a good team, Kadeena (Cox) is going to be angry after her 500m, I've got a bit of extra fire in my belly after this and Jaco (van Gass) has already broken a world record this week. It would be nice to go home with a medal but nothing is guaranteed, we'll give it our all.”
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