Helen Scott helps put para-cycling on the map

The Halesowen racer returned to training at British Cycling today hopeful her sport's profile is again on the rise.

Scott and teenager Sophie Thornhill won gold in the sprint tandem on day one and followed it with victory in the 1km time trial tandem in Glasgow.

They clocked a Games' record of 1:08.187 minutes to deny home hopes Scotland's Aileen McGlynn and Louise Haston gold.

"I knew from the very first rev it would be a good one but I had no idea we would go that fast," Scott said afterwards.

It was the first time the para-sprint tandem had been in the Games and Scott does not want it to be the last, although she admitted that it was not clear whether it would continue in the Commonwealth schedule.

"It was amazing to be with the able-bodied team-mates, it's a bit of novelty, and it was good to get the recognition which we don't usually get when we're just doing para-cycling," said Scott, who celebrated her 24th birthday during the Glasgow Games.

"It's the first time it's been in and it could be the last so we're glad we enjoyed it.

"Hopefully it proved para-cycling, especially the tandem, is exciting and a real crowd pleaser.

"I don't know who the people in charge are but hopefully they were watching and it would be nice to have it in again. We didn't cause any trouble, we weren't any hassle.

"The cycling World Cups are long days and maybe we could have events – a different one in each World Cup – and be integrated with the able-bodied athletes.

"It's such a shame because at the time people are 'this is absolutely brilliant' and then nothing seems to happen.

"Hopefully being at the Games with the able-bodied team gives it a little bit more of a push.

"It's crazy the men's tandem sprint isn't in the Paralympics too and hopefully that'll be resolved.

"We have got our own World Cups lined up in the next few years so progress is being made, it's slow and steady."

Scott won Paralympic silver and bronze with McGlynn at London 2012 and she believes it was a fitting setting for her 41-year-old Team GB colleague if she decides to quit.

"It was better than the Olympics, simply because we won two golds but the crowd were amazing. With the support it felt like being back in London," she said.

"Aileen rode fantastically, I think it was maybe her last race so it was quite special. We'll see though, she might have got the bug again after getting some more medals."

Scott joined her local cycling club in Halesowen at the age of 10 and gave up a Birmingham University sports science course after only two weeks in 2008 when she was offered a place at British Cycling's Sprint Academy.

After representing the British team at national level, she moved into para-cycling in 2010 as pilot for McGlynn, the pair going on to win world championship silver medals.

They then took silver in the 1km time trial and bronze in the individual pursuit at the Paralympics in London two years ago.

By Nick Mashiter