Neil Fachie admits there’s no way to escape the pressure on him in the Para-cycling Track World Championships.
The Aberdonian, with pilot Matt Rotherham, competes in the 1km time trial this evening, with the final from 9pm.
The pair also compete tomorrow in the tandem sprint, but there is more than just World Championship medals at stake in Milton, Canada.
With the Paralympics in Tokyo in August and September qualification for the games is on Fachie’s mind.
The time trial is a Paralympic event, while the sprint is not.
There may be just one British bike selected for the time trial, which means a good performance at the World Championships is essential to Fachie’s Tokyo dream.
The 35-year-old said: “It’s hard to avoid the pressure of the event and that’s probably why we were stressed a week or so ago when we weren’t looking fast.
“It’s because it does mean a lot but because we’ve done some good sessions since then has eased those nerves.
“I know in the back of my mind what time I need to do to win the time trial and to stamp my authority on the event.”
Fachie has claimed 13 World Championship gold medals in his long career, but admits Paralympic dreams are dominating his thoughts as much as adding to his worlds medal tally.
He won gold in the time trial at London in 2012 and silver in the sprint then had to settle for silver in the time trial four years later in Rio de Janeiro.
Fachie added; “You obviously want to win the World Championships because every year it is a big deal.
“But at this point we’re thinking about Tokyo and the Paralympics as well.
“This event will play a big part in selection for Tokyo so if I can go out and win the time trial in a strong time then Tokyo is almost a given.
“If things don’t go well then Tokyo might not happen – so there is quite a lot riding on this event really.
“In competition you want to win every race and this is the World Championships because it’s a big deal, but the bigger ramifications and what it could mean for Tokyo are also in the thought process.”
