Q&A Lora and Neil Fachie
Lora and Neil Fachie have won two Paralympic golds apiece plus countless titles in tandem paracycling. Now, the Manchester-based couple is aiming for further success at the Worlds in Glasgow
Words JAMES WITTS Photography ALEX WRIGHT
Cyclist: Which events will you be aiming for at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow (3rd-13th August)?
Lora Fachie: I’m going for the kilometre pursuit on the track plus the time-trial and road race. In paracycling, we don’t race anywhere near the same length as able-bodied road racers so there’s a crossover from the pursuit.
Neil Fachie: I’m a sprinter so just the track. I’m aiming to defend my title in the 1km time-trial and sprint, and may also ride the team sprint but that’s to be confirmed. I don’t have the endurance to be anywhere near competitive on the road.
Cyc: Tell us about your sight-loss conditions.
LF: Mine’s a hereditary condition that I’ve had since birth. My whole family have it, so my mum and two brothers. Now I have just perception, but when I was born I had a little more useful vision.
NF: Mine is also a hereditary condition and I got it from my mum. It’s degenerative so is worsening over time. At some point, it looks like I’ll be totally blind but I have usable sight at this point, although not enough to race a bike at speed by myself.
Cyc: The relationship between yourselves and your pilots must be important?
LF: It is, although I’m just hoping my pilot will be Corinne [Hall]. I’ve been riding off and on with Corinne for around ten years now. It’s important to get on with the pilot as you must communicate and work effectively. You don’t necessarily need to like the person but it does make the whole thing a lot more fun and enjoyable if you do.
NF: My pilot is Matt Rotherham, although it’s worth pointing out that British Cycling decides who we ride with, not us. But Matt’s great and we’ve enjoyed a lot of success together. We first got on the tandem around 2018. Matt was on the British Cycling Sprint Academy but didn’t quite make it onto the Olympic programme. Over time, that trust grows. Once you share rooms with someone, you get to know them very well. Of course, it’s challenging at times but that’s competitive sport.
Cyc: How often do you and your respective pilots train together?
LF: I train six times a week but haven’t trained with Corinne since the road race at the Tokyo Paralympics, which didn’t go well as we endured a mechanical. She underwent knee surgery post-Tokyo and has been rehabbing from that, while I had baby Fraser last year. I’d liked to ha
