China set a world record as they defeated Britain on Sunday in the thrilling final race at the Velodrome, meaning both track cycling teams finished the London this year Paralympics with five golds.
In an exciting farewell at the 6,000-capacity venue, China won the mixed C1 to C5 team sprint in 48.454 seconds, ahead of Britain in 49.519 – both faster than the world record China had earlier set in qualifying.
The Velodrome has proved a happy hunting ground for Britain, the hosts having won seven out of 10 golds during the Olympics and also topping the Paralympics medal table.
From the 18 events, Britain won 15 medals (five golds, seven silvers and three bronzes), to finish ahead of China on nine (five golds, one silver, three bronzes) and Australia on eight (four golds, two silvers and two bronzes).
Fittingly, the final anthem played was Britain’s “God Save the Queen”, for Anthony Kappes and his pilot Craig MacLean who won the men’s individual B sprint.
In B classification races, athletes with a visual impairment compete on a tandem bicycle with a sighted pilot on the front.