Katie-George Dunlevy does the World double once again with Road Race win

After winning the World Championship Time Trial on Friday, Katie-George Dunlevy and her tandem partner Linda Kelly continued their magnificent partnership as they also defended their World Road Race title on Sunday morning overcoming a host of problems to do so. 

Dunlevy and Kelly fought back after twice experiencing mechanical problems to take the title ahead of the Polish tandem with Great Britain in third place at the UCI World Championships in Ronse, Belgium.

The Irish pair were defending the World Championship gold medals they won last year when the Championships were held weeks after the Paris Paralympic.

This, however, was one of the toughest races ever for Dunlevy, whose father, John, is a proud Mountcharles native.

Speaking afterwards the race, Dunlevy explained the problems they had in the race with a chain and then a puncture.

"We were struggling at times and it was a really, really hard race. I think it was probably the hardest race that we had and it was definitely a case of not giving up and believing in yourself and believing in each other.

"We had a lot thrown at us there with the slight puncture and the changing of the wheel and the chain getting stuck. We were ahead at those stages as well and then we had to close in on those wheels again.

"It was tough and then the hills made it even tougher. But a lot of people had mechanicals. After last year and both of us crashing in World Cup races, it was nice to be upright. And to do the double, double three times.  It is just what we were hoping for and dreaming for as well," said Dunlevy.

For Linda Kelly, the mechanical issues only spurred them on. "Look, myself and Katie are fighters and we drop the heads no matter what. We were here to race and make the most of it," said Kelly, who said after the problems we just said "let's do this, we are well able to time trial."

"We had that Polish bike ahead of us and at one stage it looked as if we were never going to catch them but with three quarters of a lap to go we came to the hill and that's where we attacked the Polish and we got a gap from there and time trialled home," said Kelly.

READ NEXT: Donegal Masters advance to All-Ireland final after beating Sligo

Dunlevy said winning this title "meant the world. We are absolutely thrilled, we had a great team around us, support team and we had family here and they were screaming at us and it helps to push that bit harder. To win a medal in front of them means the world as well," said Dunlevy.