Britain's female team pursuiters start strongly at London Track World Cup
World champions Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell and Laura Trott qualify fastest in day session.

Great Britain's ever-reliable women's team pursuit squad led the way in the opening session of the London Track World Cup meeting today.
The quartet, comprised of reigning world champions in the discipline Katie Archibald, Laura Trott, Elinor Barker and birthday girl Joanna Rowsell produced a measured ride to set the fastest time in 4-23.406, a hundredth of a second faster than Australia. Largely riding one lap turns, they only went ahead of the Aussies' time with 225m of their four-kilometre ride remaining.
They will face USA in tonight's semi-final, who qualified fourth, nine seconds slower.
Their male counterparts posted a 4-02.373 to finish second, 1.8 seconds behind a rampant Australian team, who set a 4-00.577. The British quartet (which comprised Steven Burke, Ed Clancy, Owain Doull and man one Andy Tennant) will face Denmark in tonight's semi, with the winners progressing to the gold medal ride.
Britain's men's team sprint squad made an early exit from competition, as they finished seventh. Sprint coach Justin Grace admitted afterwards that the trio of Philip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner were hindered by illness that has swept through the entire British squad in the past month.
Jess Varnish - who still appeared to be struggling from illness - and Vicky Williamson missed out on progressing to the medal rides as they battled to fifth place in women's team sprint qualifying, seventh-tenths behind quickest team China.
Jannie Milena Salcedo (Colombia) took victory in the women's scratch after gaining a lap on the field alongside runner-up Lauren Stephens (USA). Laura Trott did not start the race as planned, opting to focus on the team pursuit finals and this weekend's omnium.
Track World Cup London, day one, day session
Women's Team Pursuit qualifying
1. Great Britain 4-23.406
2. Australia 4-23.498
3. Canada 4-28.208
4. USA 4-32.523
5. China 4-32.685
Men's Team Sprint qualifying
1. Germany 43.700
2. Team Jayco-AIS 43.832
3. New Zealand 43.839
4. France 43.907
5. Russia 44.360
Other
7. Great Britain 44.511
Men's Team Pursuit qualifying
1. Australia 4-00.577
2. Great Britain 4-02.373
3. Denmark 4-02.399
4. New Zealand 4-03.773
5. Netherlands 4-04.438
Women's Scratch final
1. Jannie Milena Salcedo (Colombia)
2. Lauren Stephens (USA)
3. Katarzyna Pawlowska (Pol) -1 lap
4. Laurie Berthon (Fra) -1 lap
5. Evgeniya Romanyuta (Rus) -1 lap
Women's Team Sprint qualifying
1. China 32.956
2. Germany 33.022
3. Jayco-AIS 33.130
4. Russia 33.336
5. Great Britain 33.622
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
-
-
Unreleased Shimano GRX 12-speed spotted at Unbound Gravel
The potentially new groupset was spotted on Taylor Lideen's bike before this Saturday's racing
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Specialized reveals new heritage-inspired custom colorway for Unbound Gravel 2023
Ian Boswell, Sofia Villafane and other Specialized athletes will again be racing aboard custom -painted bikes at Unbound Gravel. Here's the story behind this year's paint.
By Joe Baker • Published
-
Laura Kenny expecting second child
Olympic star shares news of pregnancy in heartfelt social media post
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Laura Kenny considered quitting cycling at start of year: 'I was at breaking point'
The 30-year-old nearly left the sport after suffering a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'Life doesn't always go to plan' — Laura Kenny reveals miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
Five-time Olympic champion returned to the track this week
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Dame Sarah Storey nominated for BBC's Sports Personality of the Year as Cavendish and the Kenny's miss out
Britain's most successful Paralympian is nominated alongside the likes of Raheem Sterling, Emma Raducanu and Adam Peaty
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Last updated
-
'There were a lot of things in the run-up to Tokyo that weren't ideal': Laura Kenny opens up on team pursuit disappointment at the Olympics
Kenny's two medals at Tokyo were her first as a mother, and she plans on returning to the Olympic scene in Paris
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Last updated
-
Calls for Jason and Laura Kenny to receive knighthood and damehood after more Olympic success
The husband and wife duo are two of the most successful British athletes at the Games
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Laura Kenny to make World Championships return in Apeldoorn this month
The four time Olympic champion will make her return at the UCI World Championships in Holland
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Laura Kenny wins prestigious Bidlake Memorial Prize
British Olympic track champion Laura Kenny is presented with the 2016 FT Bidlake Memorial Prize after becoming the nation's most successful female Olympic athlete
By Nigel Wynn • Published