Storey targets gold in Manchester

By David Gavrilovic
BBC Sport

Storey takes the plaudits in Manchester

Manchester cyclist Sarah Storey is targetting a gold medal in the pursuit at the Paralympic World Cup.

As Sarah Bailey she was known as Superwoman and she has since married gold medal winning cyclist Barney Storey, who is helping her to prepare.

Storey attended four Paralympic Games as a swimmer but switched to cycling due to persistent ear infections.

"Barney wasn't the reason why I changed sports, but he was a huge help in making the change easier," she said.

"It was great not having to wait for the next training session to have to ask any questions as I had an expert in the sport who knows it inside out sat right next to me on the sofa.

"It's great for us now to be working towards a common goal too."

My target is to win the pursuit as this is my top event and to get a good result in the time trial Sarah Storey

At last year's Paralympic World Cup in Manchester she won two gold medals and Barney also claimed gold in the tandem cycling event with Anthony Kappes.

This week Sarah will compete in the 500m time trial and the 3km pursuit, events she won easily last year.

"There will be lots of top athletes competing this year, my target is to win the pursuit as this is my top event and to get a good result in the time trial," she said.

This is Storey's last major event before Beijing and she will be looking to show her competitors that she is the one to beat in Beijing as well as claiming gold in front of her home town crowd.