At the end of January, Jaco travelled to Milton, Canada to compete at the Para-Cycling Track World Championships 2020. These World Championships are extremely important to be selected for the Paralympics so for everyone, there is a lot of pressure on performance and results.
The first day started with the 3K Pursuit qualifying and final. This is usually Jaco’s strongest event. He qualified 2nd fastest, meaning he would ride for a Gold or Silver medal that evening. With a small rest up in between, he gave it absolutely everything but came a very close second losing by 0.5 seconds to an Australian rider. A very tough way to lose a race with it being so close, but with a lot of racing ahead, Jaco wasn’t going to let that beat him.
Day 2 was the 1K Time Trial (the kilo), 4 laps of the track as fast as you can, with no qualifying event, it’s a straight final. Jaco was the 3rd heat of 10. Meaning he raced and then had to sit back and watch to see how all the other competitors compared against his time. After what felt like the longest 15 minutes ever, Jaco had put down the fastest time and became World Champion in the 1K Time Trial. His first ever World Championship title after coming second by half a wheel at the Road World Championships in 2019. The day was filled with emotion and happiness. A very surreal feeling becoming World Champion for the first time.
Jaco then raced the flying 200m, not a medal race but was to accumulate points for the overall Omnium for the whole weekend. He rode 3rd fastest, leaving him at the top of the points table in the Omnium with more racing ahead on the Sunday.
It was then time for a much needed rest day. Jaco and his fiance Kathryn spent the day taking it all in, exploring Canada and resting up ahead of another big day of racing on the Sunday.
Sunday started with the team sprint qualifying, with GB qualifying second fastest overall ahead of the final in the evening. Jaco finished off his weekend with the Scratch race, a 60 lap endurance race. He was able to finish up to 4th place to still remain unbeaten in the Omnium, however, he won the Scratch race. Another two Gold medals, another two World titles and another two rainbow jerseys.
Overall, it was an incredibly successful World Championships. He worked so hard for this along with the team around him. Bringing home 3 gold medals and 2 silver medals, Jaco is extremely happy with his performance with the Summer Paralympic Games ahead.
Jaco said ‘I’ve always dreamed of becoming a World Champion and wearing the stripy jersey, I couldn’t have ever dreamed of gaining three world titles in one event’.
A huge thank you to all of Jaco’s supporters, Asset Academy, The Wigley Group, Core Clinics, Dale Vincent Coaching and Thin Air Sports.
*all photo credit swpix.com.
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