Cycling: Golden Gill claims European title

8:36am Saturday 16th August 2008

Keighley's Anthony Gill struck gold at the European Masters Cycling Championships.

The Keighley rider claimed first place in the 200m sprint and followed it up with a silver in the team event.

Gill, from East Morton, is focusing his efforts towards the World Masters in Australia in October but was delighted to prove he is on track for a strong showing at Sydney with victory at the Manchester Velodrome.

"I didn't come off my training programme for the Europeans as it isn't the peak of my season so it was to especially nice to win," he said.

Gill went through the compeition undefeated, winning the best-of-three final against fellow Brit Bruce Croall 2-0, and posted the fastest qualifying time trial at 10.97secs.

"Winning in Australia is my big target but I want to break the world record qualifying time of 10.33secs and I think I've got a realistic chance of that," Gill added.

"I'm just trying to be stronger and better on a bike than ever before.

"We didn't know what to expect in the team sprint, we haven't got the strongest team by any stretch of the imagination.

"It was quite rewarding there because my teammates hadn't been in the best of form but we pulled it together and ended up with a silver."

The World Masters will take place from October 14 to 19.

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