Team GB flexed their cycling muscles over the weekend as they showed the world their prowess at the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn.

Last week we announced that Shane Sutton OBE, British Cycling’s Performance Manager had put forward a strong team to represent Great Britain at the European Track Championships. This was proven as early as day one, when the star-studded line-up of Laura Trott, Dani King, Elinor Barker and Katie Archibald stormed to victory in the women’s Team Pursuit.

Women’s Team 4km Pursuit

The women’s endurance team – who were already on a high from breaking the Team Pursuit world record at the National Track Championships in September – managed to break the record in the qualifying rounds at Apeldoorn, and then again when they beat Poland in the final, to take Gold.

Favourites going into the European Track Championships, King, Trott, Barker and Archidald showed their dominance in this field, beating the Polish squad by almost ten seconds, finishing in a world record breaking time of 4:26.453.

Women’s Team Sprint

The Great Britain women’s sprint squad consisted of two-time world champion Becky James and Olympian Jess Varnish. Although the gold medal was won by Russia, with Olympic Champions Germany taking silver, Varnish and James got through to the minor final’s against the Netherlands.

Racing against the Netherlands, the Great Britain duo managed to win the bronze medal with a half second lead on the Dutch squad.

Women’s Points Race

On the opening day, it would be Kirsten Wild of the Netherlands who would take Gold over Team GB rider Dani King. A closely fought battle, King eventually finished just one point behind Wild, who only took victory in the last sprint.