The UCI Track Cycling World Champs are underway at London’s Lee Valley Velodrome, and Team GB has seen some promising signs of success as well as some eyebrow raising performances ahead of the Rio Olympics.
The smiles came from Laura Trott, as she won the Scratch Race after catching the lead group with two of the 40 laps to go, taking her sixth rainbow jersey.
Also beaming was Becky James who took bronze in the keirin – competing again after a frustrating bout of injury that prevented the 24-year-old from competing in the 2014 Commonwealth Games and and 2015 World Championships.
Over the moon to be on the podium at the World Champs today!!!! Smiling from ear to ear! Thanks for the amazing support everyone ❤️ xxxxx
— Becky James (@BecksJames) March 3, 2016
The heartbreak featured in team GB’s crowning glory – the women’s team persuit contested by Joanna Rowsell Shand, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and Ciara Horne. An injury sustained in a motorbike accident meant that the usual fourth team mate Katie Archibald was unable to race, and she was replaced by Horne who has less experience in the event and allowed a gap to form in the closing 1000 metres.
The team came fifth in their qualifying event, meaning they can now take Bronze overall at best – a long way off their winning performances in the months leading up to the 2012 games.
*UPDATE* Saturday evening’s final saw the quartet of Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell-Shand and Ciara Horne bring their dreams back to life with a Bronze medal. They finished four seconds ahead of their opposition, posting a time of 4:16:50 to New Zealand’s 4:20:225. On the top step, the USA took the win and Canada sat in second.*Update*
There’s still plenty more action to come, keep up to date with the news by following British Cycling or UCI Track Cycling on Twitter.
