Colbourne’s amazing two-year journey from accident to cycling world cup

Gary Baker on 22/06/2011

Mark Colbourne has put himself in line for a shock London Paralympic squad place after a terrific performance in Spain.

The Tredegar track cyclist competed for the first time in the UCI Para-Cycling World Cup this month and finished the C1 Time Trial event with a bronze medal.

The result is more astonishing as Colbourne is a relative newcomer to disability cycling after breaking his back in a paragliding accident only two years ago.

That was at Rhossili on the Gower in May 2009 and, after being airlifted from the scene, he spent three months at Cardiff's specialist Rookwood Hospital.

But, after meeting Federation of Disabled Sports Wales Performance Manager Anthony Hughes during his recovery in hospital, Colbourne immediately took up cycling - and has not looked back since.

Now his coach Neil Smith said: "The World Championships are coming up shortly and, if Mark can get in the top three, then there is every chance he could get in the squad for the London Paralympics next year."

That would be testament to Colbourne's determination to fight back from adversity. He spent hundreds of hours getting back into shape after his life-changing accident and had to learn to ride a bike again.

Seven months after meeting Smith, Colbourne rode in the Disability Grand Prix of Wales at Newport's Welsh National Velodrome and not only won his races but broke British records in the process.

After training in Crete during last winter, Colbourne returned to the UK and rode in the British Cycling Disability Time Trial Series in Doncaster where he caught the eye of the national selectors and was asked to ride for Team GB.

Smith added: "That is an amazing recovery just two years after his accident and learning to get back on a bike again. However, it is down to his determination not to be beaten."

Colbourne's podium finish in Segovina, Spain, has now earmarked him as a possible British Paralympics squad member and he can cap his amazing story at the final World Cup event in Baie-Comeau, Canada, next month (July) and those Paracycling World Championships in Roskilde, Denmark, in September.

back to article index