Will Tidball fulfils a dream inspired by Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins after winning gold at Cycling World Championships
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Published 03/08/2023 at 22:04 GMT
There was a gold medal for Great Britain fans to celebrate at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow on Thursday evening, as Will Tidball produced a storming finish to claim victory in the Men's Scratch. There was a silver medal for GB with Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Lauren Bell finishing second behind Germany - who broke the world record - in the Women’s Team Sprint.
'He's a world champion!' - Tidball grabs glorious gold in Men's Scratch
Will Tidball has said he fulfilled a dream inspired by watching Chris Hoy and Bradley Wiggins when taking gold in the Men’s Scratch at the UCI Cycling World Championships.
Tidball came with a storming finish, hitting the front on the final bend to delight the home fans in Glasgow.
The Brit executed his plan to perfection, as he rode a cool race and only got involved as it reached its dying embers.
Reflecting on his stunning performance, Tidball said he had dreamed about becoming a world champion.
“I don't think it has sunk in yet,” Tidball told the BBC. “Not long ago I was watching Chris and Bradley and all those do this.
“To come here and become world champion at first time of asking is what dreams are made of.”
Tidball admitted he felt things had slipped from his grasp when Alex Vogel dashed clear with four laps remaining.
"I thought I had left it a bit late,” Tidball said. “The plan was to stay out of harms way and every day in training I was thinking about getting on a good wheel with two and a half kilometres to go.
"To say you are the best in the world of something is something I have dreamt of since I started cycling."
GB cycling royalty Hoy was trackside and he was thrilled for Tidball.
"It was what is great about the scratch race,” Hoy said. “It was incredible from Will Tidball.”
The GB trio of Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Lauren Bell took silver in the Women’s Team Sprint, and the former feels they are making up ground on Germany - who broke the world record - with Paris 2024 on the horizon.
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'A supreme battle!' - Germany set new world record as they pip GB to Team Sprint gold
"We are super happy with our performance because we got bronze last year and it is really exciting, especially to smash our national record by half a second, and be able to repeat that in the final,” Finucane said.
"There is still a year to go until Paris and to be so close to the Germans is amazing. There is so much more to come from us.”
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You can live stream all the races at the UCI Cycling World Championships and watch on demand on discovery+.
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