GB roll on as Storey wins an 18th gold in nine Games

Dame Sarah Storey continued her historic pursuit of gold upon gold yesterday, claiming her 18th Paralympic victory over nine Games by winning the women's C5 time trial and immediately turning her attention to the hunt for more.

- Paul MacInnes

On a day in which Britain's women cyclists lived up to high expectations, and the men collectively disappointed, Storey also joined the chorus of voices calling for a renewed focus on delivering social change for people with disabilities.

Storey won the time trial by 4.69 seconds from Heïdi Gaugain of France, her fifth consecutive title in the event, in a race that began just after sunrise in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois.

Only a curtailed course, cut in half to accommodate medal ceremonies much to Storey's chagrin, prevented a more dominant victory.

"This is the shortest Paralympic time trial we've ever had and I think it's a real shame because you don't get to showcase para-sport in the way that you want to," she said after the race. "I'm very happy. I'm over the moon. But I know that there's always ways to improve things. Now we've got to do the road race on Friday.

"I know that my family were there at the start. I've got friends from work who are here. Family have come out, former teammates have come out and people who used to work at British Cycling. There's so many people that I'm looking forward to seeing. But I've never got up for a cycling final when it's dark. So I guess that my days as a swimmer have paid off."