News | Monday, 2nd December 2019

Student cyclists secure medals in this year’s BUCS Track Championships

Manchester Met win four medals across the tournament

Image: Elliot Keen / Burn FM Sport
Image: Elliot Keen / Burn FM Sport

Two of Manchester Metropolitan University’s track cyclists secured four medals in this year’s BUCS Track Championships.

Sport scholars Georgia Holt and Georgia Hilleard took on more than 190 riders from 33 universities in one of British University and College Sport’s (BUCS) prestigious events at the National Cycling Centre in Manchester.

Biomedical Science student Holt secured gold medals in the 500m time trial and individual sprint.

She said: “After I qualified for the individual sprint final and then won the 500m time trial on Saturday, I knew Sunday was going to be a tough day. The standard of riding had improved from last year and the potential to race up to six times with not a lot of rest was not inviting.

 “The Individual sprint finals were over three races. I lost the first match, which really struck hard and I knew I had no choice to win the next two if I wanted gold. I pulled myself together and won in the second race and for the final race my opponent and I sprinted as hard as we could for the entire three laps and I took the victory.”

Image: Elliot Keen / Burn FM Sport

Hilleard, an Exercise and Sport Science student, secured a bronze medal in the elimination event and then competing together, the pair came second in the team sprint, losing out on the top spot by only 0.2 seconds.

Despite only two of them in the competition, they placed third best women’s team overall, which combines the BUCS points won by both cyclists to total the University team score.   

The event took place from November 23 to 24.

Image: Elliot Keen / Burn FM Sport

Manchester Para-cycling International

Exercise and Sport Science student and world champion Helen Scott also took the victory at the Manchester Para-cycling International over the weekend (November 31 to December 1), winning the 1km time trial by more than five seconds with her partner Sophie Thornhill.

The pair also won gold in the tandem sprint.

Physiotherapy graduate Kadeena Cox also had a successful weekend, winning gold in the 500m time trial and competing with two other teammates to win the mixed team sprint race.

Dame Sarah Storey, honorary graduate of Manchester Metropolitan, also won gold in the individual pursuit at the competition.

Dame Sarah has regularly worked with Manchester Met’s sport scientists to aid her training and has worked with the University’s fashion lecturers and students to design a range of leisurewear and technical race clothing to complement her elite racing team, Storey Racing.

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