Gwent Ace Ball At The Double At Paracycling Worlds

James Ball admitted he was lost for words after striking double gold at the World Paracycling Championships in Los Angeles.

The Ponthir-born rider won a dramatic men’s tandem sprint battle with partner Matt Rotherham on Sunday to follow up the victory in the time trial.

Ball and Rotherham beat Great Britain team-mates Neil Fachie and Craig Maclean 2-1 in the gold medal final.

The 25-year-old said after his first world titles: “I still can’t put it into words.

“That wasn’t in the plans to come out here and win two golds.

“We just wanted to come out here and see how we’d get on as a pairing but we knew we were going quick so I’m really happy it’s all come together.”

Ball and new pilot Rotherham qualified straight into the semi-finals after clocking 10.047seconds in qualifying for the tandem sprint.

The duo, who only got together after the Rio Olympics where Ball was partnered by Maclean, easily won their semi with a 2-0 defeat of Russia.

Fachie and Maclean won the first heat before Ball and Rotherham levelled things up in a thrilling battle.

And in the decider, Ball and Rotherham went for a long burst for home and managed to make it stick.

“Believe it or not, the last bit was actually planned! It didn’t just happen! We talked about it in the pit before and felt pretty confident,” added Ball.

Pilot Rotherham said: ”Going against your teammates, it’s a lot harder, but we knew we’d gone quick in qualifying.”

Ball only switched to cycling after missing out on making the athletics team for London in 2012 following persistent hamstring injuries.

He took bronze in the tandem sprint at last year’s worlds with Maclean and then came fifth in Rio after Britain were handed extra places when Russia were kicked out of the Paralympics