THE national anthem never sounded so sweet as it did for Bolton sprint cyclist Matt Rotherham from the top of the rostrum in Los Angeles.

A whirlwind few weeks of training as pilot of para-cyclist James Ball ended with the pair claiming double gold at the UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in America.

After returning home from the States, and still with the fog of jet-lag clouding his memory, Deane rider Rotherham admitted he was still basking in the glow of his achievements.

"It had been a good couple of years since I had even pulled on the Team GB skins, so just getting my kit before jetting out there was pretty sweet," said the 22-year-old former Canon Slade pupil, who last rode for his country at the European Under-23s Championships in Portugal in 2014.

"I was wondering if I would ever get the chance to do that again, so when the opportunity came along to get back in the fold I grabbed it with both hands.

"Sure, all the emphasis at the championships was on the stoker (Ball) and rightly so, but James was brilliant. I would congratulate him on his achievement and he would say 'no, this is ours, we ride as equals'.

"And that's exactly how it felt on the medal rostrum.

"I have only ever stood up there and had the anthem played for me once before – at the Junior European Championships in 2012.

"When the music started it felt just as good, better in some ways. It was a really nice feeling."

Rotherham and Ball, who is visually-impaired, won their first medal in the tandem 1km time trial, their time of 1mins 00.727secs one of the fastest in history.

The pair then added another gold in the men’s tandem sprint 24 hours later, beating team-mates Neil Fachie and Craig Maclean in the final.

Selectors must now decide whether to invite Rotherham into the funding programme full-time and, if so, whether he will continue to partner Ball or be paired with another rider.

A decision is expected to be made in two-weeks' time, then the countdown will begin in earnest towards the next Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2020.

"I hope I have done enough to earn a place," said Rotherham.

"Obviously, I still have ambitions to qualify for the Team GB Olympic squad, but I think riding as a pilot for James can help me in that aim.

"To be funded will allow me to train full time. I will get more track time at the velodrome in Manchester and I can use the gym at the English Institute of Sport at the National Cycling Centre as well.

"So I should get stronger and fitter.

"If I am chosen as a Paralympic pilot then there is no question, I will be committing to that 100 per cent, but I will be 25 at the time of the Tokyo Games and just getting into my prime, so who knows after that?

"It would also be great to build on my partnership with James. We posted some of the fastest times in history after just seven weeks' training, so who knows what we are capable of?"