Ben's Profile

Time-trial specialist Ben Watson had the dream start to his Paralympic career in Tokyo, taking two gold medals on the road at the delayed 2020 Games, and will be looking to defend his titles in Paris this summer.

Born in Stockport, Watson suffered from a rare disease known as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) at the age of 14, in which a person's immune system attacks the peripheral nerves. It left him with lasting nerve damage which impacted his movement.

Though he always enjoyed cycling and regularly competed at a local level, the former chartered surveyor was late to come to elite level para-cycling, identified by British Cycling at a talent day at the age of 27. He joined the Great Britain Cycling Team foundation programme in 2017, and wasted no time in making his presence felt on the world stage. Watson medalled on his road world debut in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, taking silver in the time-trial and also collected an impressive 10th place finish in the road race. Watson went on to podium at the next two world championships in 2018 and 2019, winning two bronzes in the time-trials.

The 2019 season also saw Watson pick up his most impressive road race victory yet, winning the Yorkshire Para-cycling International - the first time that a para event had been held in conjunction with the UCI Road World Championships.

A regular contender for the podium at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup events, Watson’s haul includes a gold medal in the Ostend road race in 2019 and four time-trial medals.

At the 2021 Para-cycling Classics Ronde in Flanders Brugge-Ronse one-day road race, Watson finished second in a British clean sweep of the podium. A month later, just prior to the world championships, Watson crashed in training, but managed to make it to the time-trial start line and finish in fourth place.

Watson made his Paralympic debut in Tokyo and became a double gold medal winner on the road. In the individual time-trial, he finished almost a minute ahead of second place and in the road race, he secured a dominant solo victory by over a minute.

He was recognised for his services to the sport on the 2022 New Year Honours list, with an MBE. That year, Watson focused on his time-trialling on the road, taking bronze medals at two world cup events ahead of the home world championships in 2023. Watson headed to Dumfries and Galloway to take on both road events in his category, winning bronze in the road race.

Heading for his second Paralympics in Paris, Watson will once again focus on the road, taking on the road race and the individual time-trial, in search of the same incredible success he achieved in Tokyo.

If you have been inspired to get on a bike...

Get Involved