Katie Archibald column: 'Like any rider, on any start line, I’ll be trying to win'
In her column for Cycling Weekly, Great Britain track star Katie Archibald reveals her expectations for the forthcoming World Championships in Hong Kong


Former swimmer Katie Archibald made a splash in cycling when she won her first team pursuit world title after just three years in the sport. She went on to claim gold with GB in the team pursuit at the 2016 Olympic Games
Apparently there are outdoor escalators in Hong Kong. I can’t remember the last time I chose to walk somewhere rather than ride but if by some freak accident I do find myself on two feet, like a dog being forced to dance, I won’t have to put in too much effort during my visit this week. I’m glad.
Hong Kong, of course, is the setting for the upcoming UCI Track Cycling World Championships. It’s my first trip to Asia and I’m quite excited about the whole experience. And by ‘excited’ I mean ‘terrified’. Same feeling, really; what’s the difference between butterflies in your stomach and tiny, exploding wasps?
My main targets are the omnium and the individual pursuit. I’m not setting my expectations for the omnium too high. I’ve been reminded by many a journalist and well-meaning friend alike that my omnium spot has come as a consequence of Laura Kenny (current world and Olympic champion in the discipline) being pregnant.
>>> Katie Archibald claims fourth national title in just over a week with omnium success
It would grate me if it wasn’t true. The silver lining is that this sentiment takes the pressure off; I’m just the understudy so you’re not expecting the world. Please don’t think I feel too complacent though: like any rider, on any start line, I’ll be trying to win.
The pursuit is a bit different. Pursuiting is kind of my thing and this is my chance to prove I’m good at my thing. The only other time I’ve raced a Worlds individual pursuit is 2015 where I placed fifth. A disappointing champs for us, in Paris, that year. It ended GB women’s four-year run of world title wins in the team pursuit and saw none of us in the rainbow jersey for another discipline.
I think the favourites for the individual will be my familiar rivals from the team pursuit with Rebecca Wiasak of Australia and Chloe Dygert of the USA the two obvious contenders for the title. Someone has to challenge them though or the whole game is pointless: I’ll be giving it my best shot.
Thank you for reading 5 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
Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, n exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
-
-
Marxism meets meteorology on Tour de France stage two's Great Belt Bridge
The peloton will ride across the Great Belt Bridges on the way to Nyborg on Saturday afternoon, with wind forecast
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Meet your robot coach: Here are our predictions for ‘the next big thing’ in training tech for cycling
From real time performance monitoring to training plans created by machine learning – what could be the next smart training tool that you need to know about?
By Joe Laverick • Published
-
Tweets of the Week: Mark Cavendish's meme, cycling Supermarket Sweep and Katie Archibald's throwback
After a big week in the cycling world, here's a selection of our favourite social media moments
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Katie Archibald column: It's been a blast...but Tokyo beckons
In her last column (for now) Katie Archibald says goodbye as the Olympic Games loom ahead
By Cycling Weekly • Published
-
Katie Archibald column: Rumours has it...
'The first time I called, I got put on hold and I loved it. Their hold music was 'The Chain' by Fleetwood Mac'
By Jonny Long • Published
-
'Mine isn’t the story of an Olympic champion, but of a vain teenager who liked racing with people I wanted to be like': Katie Archibald column
'I was engaged by a social scene rather than a sport'
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Rocking the six-day lifestyle: Katie Archibald column
'The men go out after the racing most nights, meanwhile my late night entertainment was Neah removing huge wood splinters from her leg'
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Spilling the beans: Katie Archibald column
You live, you learn, and aspire to increase the size of your tin of beans
By Jonny Long • Published
-
The long road to Apeldoorn: Katie Archibald column
'I had left school with a plan to spend a year working abroad before going to university, but when the Glasgow velodrome opened I knew I wanted to ride that track, a lot'
By Jonny Long • Published
-
The simple bed necessities: Katie Archibald column
'One option if I get kicked off the squad tomorrow is to strip back to the bare essentials. That would be five bikes, a mattress on the floor, a microwave, and a toothbrush'
By Jonny Long • Published