Para-cyclist James Ball will begin a new partnership with pilot Aaron Pope at the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, which start on Thursday. The 35-year-old Welsh rider, who competes in the tandem B category for athletes with visual impairments, has now had six different pilots across his career.
From rivals to teammates
Three months ago at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Pope piloted Neil Fachie to two gold medals, while Ball and his previous pilot Matt Rotherham took silver in the men's tandem B 1,000m time trial and the men's sprint. Ball joked about the frequent changes: "It's not me, I promise. I'm now with Aaron, so that's been a lot of learning and that's quite important because it's like a proper reset." He compared the fresh start to his partnership with Steffan Lloyd ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where they won gold in the sprint and 1km time trial.
Championship outlook
Ball's first world championship titles came in Los Angeles in 2017 alongside Rotherham. With the 2028 Paralympics also set for Los Angeles, he views the Apeldoorn championships as a key benchmark. "This world championships would be a good place to see where we're at and where the rest of the world is," Ball said. "We've got the big one next year in Paris to sort of solidify our place for LA."
The new duo acknowledge nerves as they build chemistry. "I think he was quite nervous at the start as well and obviously he wanted to prove that he was good enough," Ball said of Pope. "But if you're on the programme, you're good enough. Training's been good and it's completely different with every pilot, the way they approach training and how we gel together."
Ball has medalled at all nine of his previous world championships, collecting four bronzes, six silvers and eight golds. He also holds five silvers and a gold from three Commonwealth Games, a Paralympic silver from 2021 and two golds from Paris 2024. Despite the haul, he remains hungry: "Another Commonwealth gold would be nice... defending my Paris Paralympics title too. Unfortunately they've taken out the kilo (1km time trial), so to win the sprint then in LA, that will be a big moment for me."
With long-time rival Neil Fachie retiring at 42 this summer, Ball sees no reason to stop. "To have this much time being an elite athlete, it's incredible. I still feel great. I think I'll know myself [if it is time to retire] before my performance [shows it]. But yeah, I have absolutely no thought of stopping any time soon."
The World Para Track Cycling Championships take place at the Omnisport Apeldoorn Velodrome from 29 October to 1 November.
