Storey kicked things off for ParalympicsGB on Wednesday morning by extending her record as Great Britain’s most decorated Paralympian.
An astonishing 32 years on from her Paralympic debut at Barcelona in 1992, Storey won by 4.69 seconds from France’s Heidi Gaugain, 27 years Storey’s junior.
Gaugain, 19, was born in November 2004 – by then Storey had already won 16 Paralympic meals, all of which came in Para-Swimming.
She subsequently switched to Para-Cycling and Wednesday’s win means she now has 29 Paralympic medals in all.
Her 18th Paralympic gold puts her among a group of six Paralympic athletes who have won that many.
Storey’s victory came on what she described as an “appalling” course which was just 14.1km long.
It was her first race under 22km in the event at the Paralympics, which she has now won for five straight Games.
“It’s a short race. This is the shortest Paralympic time trial we have ever had, and I think it’s a real shame because we don’t get to showcase Para-sport in the way we want to,” Storey said.
“I’ve had to put that aside and focus on what I could control, because I couldn’t control the race distance. But I hope they never do this to the women again, because it has been appalling.”
Storey is back in action on Friday in the road race, looking to pick up her 19th gold medal.
Elsewhere in road cycling, Brown secured a silver medal in Women’s C1-3 individual time trial.
She is back in road race action on Saturday, as is fellow Brit Daphne Scharger, who finished in fifth place on Wednesday.
Great Britain have the chance to add to their medal tally on the track on Wednesday afternoon.
Blaine Hunt and Archie Atkinson are both in men’s individual time trial finals.
Jaco van Gass, Fin Graham and Ben Watson are all in the men’s C3 individual time final, while the trio of Lizzy Jordan, Lora Fachie and Sophie Unwin all feature in the women’s B individual time trial.