'It's surreal': Emily Petricola wins fifth consecutive C4 individual pursuit world title

ARA Australian Cycling Team star Emily Petricola always delivers when it matters most and did so again on Day 3 of the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, winning the Women C4 Individual Pursuit world championship for a fifth consecutive time.

The 43-year-old dominated the day in Rio Olympic Velodrome, winning by 7.690 seconds after stopping the clock at 3:46.317 ahead of United States' Samantha Bosco.

Petricola's fifth title was arguably one of the hardest world titles she has achieved since her para-cycling career started in 2018, with a shocking incident while out training in February putting her well behind schedule both physically and mentally.

"I was hit by a car in training about a month ago and had struggled off the back of that with concussion, so coming here was always a bit of a risk," Petricola said.

"My team have had me in good form, but track is all about confidence and not being able to train properly for weeks really obliterated that.

"I’m surrounded by great people though, so I’m honestly just so proud to get them the result today and it is feeling pretty surreal to be honest."

Petricola's gold medal-winning time was more than two seconds slower than her faster qualifying time of 3:44.083, with the Victorian stating track conditions throughout the day were challenging and unexpected.

Emily Petricola is now a five-time world champion in the women's C4 IP. Picture: UCI

"They were really tough conditions in the track today - the polar opposite of what we’ve had since we got here so it threw everyone I think," she said.

"It really had us second guessing our strategy and honestly I’m happy that I got through two rides and am walking away with the rainbows."

Petricola is now in the right position to retain the Women C4 Omnium world championship following the scratch race tomorrow.

Both are world titles she was unable to defend in Glasgow last year due to a busy program across the track and road, but finishing her Rio campaign without any hiccups ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games remains the number one priority.

"My aim tomorrow is just to get through it safely so I can get on the plane and get home to continue the preparations for the year ahead without interruption!"

Emily Petricola waits to race in Rio Olympic Velodrome. Picture: Michael Shippley

Results – Women C4 3000m Individual Pursuit

1. Emily Petricola (AUS) 3:46.317
2. Samantha Bosco (USA) +7.690
3. Keely Shaw (CAN) +7.775

Feature picture: Allan Modesto