Milngavie's Katie Archibald to lead GB squad at World Championships
Last updated 12th Oct 2021
Olympic and European champion Katie Archibald will headline the 19-strong Great Britain squad to compete at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Roubaix, France, next week.
Archibald, who collected three European golds in Grenchen last week to follow on from her Madison success in Tokyo, will be joined by fellow Olympic silver medallists Neah Evans and Josie Knight in the women's endurance squad, while academy riders Megan Barker and Ella Barnwell make their worlds debuts.
Archibald and Evans took Madison gold in last week's Euros, with Archibald also winning the scratch race and omnium - taking her to 17 European titles as she eclipsed Laura Kenny's previous record of 15.
"I took a short break after Tokyo, but now I'm back to more considered training and really motivated for everything that's to come,'' the Scot said.
"It felt good to be racing well at the European championships last week, and our wins have helped settle my nerves about the world championships next week. What a month!
"Our team for the worlds holds a large amount of youth, but I'm used to being one of the more experienced riders on the squad so I'm hoping I can still keep my cool as the team elder, support my teammates, as well as ride well myself.''
As expected, a number of top riders - including both Laura and Jason Kenny - are missing from the squad as they take a post-Olympic break.
As part of a bigger reshuffle of the track calendar, the world championships have moved from their previous slot in late February/early March, creating a short turnaround from Tokyo.
Olympic Madison silver medallist Ethan Hayter will be joined by fellow Olympians Charlie Tanfield, Ethan Vernon and Ollie Wood in a men's endurance squad which also includes a returning Kian Emadi and debutant Rhys Britton. Wood, Tanfield and Britton were in a team that took European bronze last week.
Joe Truman returns from injury to ride in the men's sprint events alongside debutants Hayden Norris, Ali Fielding and Hamish Turnbull.
Lauren Bate, Sophie Capewell, Blaine Ridge-Davis and Milly Tanner - who all raced in Grenchen - will take part in the women's sprint.
British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: "The track world championships in Roubaix are going to be interesting for the Great Britain Cycling Team, as the majority of our Tokyo Olympians are taking a well-earned break.
"This opens the door for other riders on the team to compete at an elite level and provides them with an exciting opportunity to lay down a marker of their intentions towards Paris 2024.''