Robertson plays perfect supporting role to help teammate to Paralympic gold

By Megan Armitage in Paris

Matthew Robertson played the role of road race domestique perfectly to help teammate Fin Graham take gold in Paris.

The Kent cyclist led Britain out from the start in the Parisian suburbs, before settling back and slowing down the pace to give Graham his shot at gold.

It was a tough ask for Robertson, who had already won individual pursuit bronze on the track, but he was able to get the job done and still have enough left to race in a sprint finish for seventh place, pipping Belgium's Ewoud Vromant to the line.

"I tried my best to do what I could for the team but it was just tough from the start," said Robertson, who is one of over 1,000 elite athletes on UK Sport’s National Lottery-funded World Class Programme, allowing them to train full time, have access to the world’s best coaches and benefit from pioneering medical support – which has been vital on their pathway to the Paris 2024 Games.

"You never really know how it's going to pan out but we got a few guys up there and I had a bit of fun at the back trying to slow it down as best as I could.

"It was then about making sure no one caught up to them whilst also having a race of my own. It was type two fun."

The British race plan was for Robertson's teammates Jaco van Gass and Ben Watson to join Graham in the breakaway and give him further support on the journey to gold, but were unable to find the legs on the day.

It ultimately all came down to Graham as he battled with French duo Thomas Peyroton-Dartet and Alexandre Leaute and take the victory in the final stages.

"Most races in the past World Cup and World Champs it has been two GB versus a French [rider] so they got one over on us this time," said Graham.

“Beforehand, we had a chat and we knew that they [Leaute and Peyroton-Dartet] were going to be the strong ones.

"The guys at the start like Matty, making the pace high, making sure no one could get away were crucial.

"I then I managed to get a gap and they did really well at being able to prevent anyone else from coming across. It panned out perfectly in the end."

National Lottery players raise more than £30million a week for Good Causes including vital funding into sport – from grassroots to elite. To find out more visit: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk