\n<\/p>\n
This was by far the closest finish Storey has had in the Paralympic road race – she won by more than seven minutes in 2012 and more than three minutes in 2016.<\/p>\n
It was a seven-second margin of victory three years ago in Tokyo, but here there were barely inches between her and second place.<\/p>\n
But it reaffirms Storey’s status as Britain’s most successful Paralympian ever, and as one of the most decorated active Para-athletes.<\/p>\n
She will be 50 by the next Paralympics, in 2028 in Los Angeles, but Storey has refused to rule out another golden tilt and a 10th Games.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy glutes are on fire, I was creaking before the race, but that\u2019s normal,” she said. “It\u2019s about finding ways to manage the process and privilege of getting older as an athlete. I never envisioned eight Games, let alone nine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key is not to be afraid to lose a race, I have to trust myself and go on instinct. I just wanted to see what I had to respond. I keep finding ways to win, long may that continue.”<\/p>\n
On LA, she said: \u201cI need to enjoy this one first, but never say never to anything. This just needs to sink in, it\u2019s one of the best races we have had.”<\/p>\n
There was another thrilling sprint finish, and another British gold, in the women’s B road race.<\/p>\n
Dunlevy, the reigning Paralympic champion who had beaten Unwin to gold in the time trial two days prior, had led for the vast majority of the 99.4km course – but the 30-year-old Brit was always on her tail.<\/p>\n
And with the finish line in sight, Unwin and Holl put the hammer down with a perfectly timed sprint for which the Irish riders had no answer.<\/p>\n
It sparked wild and tearful celebrations from the British pair as they won by a three-second margin, with Unwin now the owner of six Paralympic medals from Tokyo and Paris.<\/p>\n
“I’m always emotional! I’m surprised it has taken me this long to cry like that,” said Unwin. “It feels amazing, Jenny was incredible – she rode that race perfectly.<\/p>\n
“We hoped for that [four medals], we knew we could but everyone always ups the standard for the Games, so we are glad to have managed it.”<\/p>\n
“We’ve raced these girls a lot and we know they like to run solo,” Holl said of Dunlevy and pilot Linda Kelly. “But they never like to take us to a sprint finish. So all race it was about still being with them…. If we were with 500m to go, we knew we would be solid.”<\/p>\n
While Storey and Unwin stood out, the GB men endured a difficult day in the road cycling events.<\/p>\n
In the men’s C4-5, both Blaine Hunt and Archie Atkinson failed to finish the race. Hunt, a sprint specialist, pulled out after one lap of the seven-lap, 99.4km event having supported Atkinson through the start.<\/p>\n
However Atkinson, who suffered a major crash during the final of his track event last week, struggled throughout and pulled out at about the halfway point of the race.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Stephen Bate was forced to withdraw <\/a>from the B road race as his pilot, Chris Latham, was unwell.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n