Invercargill cyclist Phillipa Gray and her pilot Laura Thompson have completed the set of Paralympic medals in less than a week.
The tandem cyclists transferred their great form from the track to the road circuit at Brands Hatch as they claimed the silver medal in the individual B time trial at the London Games this morning (NZT).
It completes the set with the duo having won gold in the B women's pursuit and bronze in the B women's 1km time trial at the velodrome.
Gray, 23, who is visually impaired, and Thompson completed the 24km course at the well known motor racing venue in 35 minutes and 07.68 seconds, finishing 5s behind the gold medal winners from the Netherlands, Kathrin Goeken and her pilot, Kim van Dijk.
The time trial has been the main focus for the Dutch, who did not compete in any events on the track. Compare that to the Kiwis, with Gray saying they had been so focused on the track they had only done eight road rides together before the Games.
"It was nasty, this hasn't been an event we've trained for, and it's a bit of a bonus," Gray said.
The medal takes New Zealand's tally to 13, beating their 12-medal haul from Beijing four years ago, with three days of competition remaining.
Northland's Fiona Southorn, a medallist on the track, wasn't rewarded for a gutsy ride, finishing fifth in the 16km C5 women's time trial, in 26mins.
Southorn will also compete in the road race tomorrow, but admitted her focus had been on the velodrome and the time trial. "I'd be lost, I think, if you find me up on the dais."
Article courtesy of Fairfax NZ News - Image courtesy of Getty