KATIE Archibald marked her return to cycling in style as Great Britain won the women’s team pursuit at the Track World Championships.
Archibald, along with Megan Barker, Josie Knight, and Anna Morris saw off their opponents from Germany comfortably to win gold – months after Archibald suffered a horrific injury.
The quartet led from the early stages of the final race, as they built a big advantage over their German rivals.
As the laps went on, the British team further extended their lead to deservedly defend their team pursuit title.
Archibald missed the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after breaking two bones in her leg, when she tripped over in her garden.
The 30-year-old has more than made up for missed time, though, as the British team turned the bronze they won in the same event in Paris, into a gold.
Speaking to BBC Sport, the Scottish rider called the victory ‘very special’ after a tough period in her career.
She insisted: “It feels good. It’s funny I guess you don’t look your finest when you’re on your knees after a victory but that’s the way you want to feel.
“Last week there was no pressure, even yesterday there was very little pressure but then about half an hour before everything settled in and I was like ‘I really want this’ and we all really wanted this and it was a fantastic race.
“It’s a deep breath. It’s feeling where you are meant to be and a team you are meant to be part of and what a treat to be part of this squad. It is very special.”
Archibald now has six world championship golds to her name, to go along with her two Olympic gold medals.
Elsewhere at the Championships, Ethan Hayter, Josh Charlton, Charlie Tanfield, and Ollie Wood won silver in the men’s team pursuit – losing out to Denmark.
There was nearly a medal for GB’s Harry Ledingham-Horn but he could only finish fourth in the men’s keirin event. Japan’s Kento Yamasaki took the gold.
Noah Hobbs of Great Britain finished sixth in the men’s scratch race, with further success going to Japan, in the form of Kazushige Kuboki.
