Storey wins 19th Paralympic gold in thrilling road race

Britain's Sarah Storey won a record-extending 19th Paralympic gold medal as she beat French rider Heidi Gaugain in a thrilling sprint finish to the cycling road race.

Storey, 46, was part of the leading pack throughout the 71km race before she and Gaugain - 27 years the Briton's junior - broke away in the final section.

Storey edged clear of Gaugain to cross the line just inches ahead of her rival.

She punched the air after crossing the line before hugging her daughter Louisa, who was watching on the roadside with the rest of Storey's family.

This is Storey's 30th Paralympic medal, earned across two sports and nine Paralympic Games since she first competed at Barcelona 1992.

It is her 13th gold medal in cycling, and fourth in successive Games in the C4-5 road race.

Storey, who did not compete in track cycling events in Paris to focus on the road events, adds race gold to the time trial title she won in Clichy-sous-Bois on Wednesday.

She formed part of the leading pack throughout the course, alongside 19-year-old Gaugain and Colombian rider Paula Ossa Veloza, who would eventually claim bronze.

But on the final circuit of the five-lap course, Storey and Gaugain broke away - with the experienced rider eventually winning out.

It reaffirms Storey's status as Britain's most successful Paralympian ever, and as one of the most decorated active Para-athletes.