Elinor Barker claims GB's second gold on final day of Track World Champs

Barker adds gold in the points race to two silvers she'd already taken at the 2017 Worlds

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Elinor Barker took a sensational gold for GB on the final day of the Track World Championships, claiming victory in the points race.

It's Britain's second gold of the Worlds after Katie Archibald won the omnium on Friday.

Barker took two laps on the field to win with 59 points from Sarah Hammer of the USA (51) and Dutch rider Kirsten Wild (35).

The 22-year-old picked up points consistently through the race, including taking a lap midway through with Hammer.

Barker trailed Hammer by 51 to 39 points with only one sprint and 29 laps remaining, but she dealt the winning blow with 15 laps to go as she attacked.

Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com - 16/04/2017 - Cycling - 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Day 5 - Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong - Great Britain's Elinor Barker celebrates after winning Gold in the Women's Points Race.
(Image credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)

It took until six laps to go until Barker caught the bunch, but that propelled her into the lead with 59, with Hammer unable to take anything in the final sprint.

The Olympic team pursuit champion adds the gold and the rainbow jersey to two silvers she already took at the Worlds in the scratch race and the madison.

"I'm incredibly happy," Barker said. "Until the last lap it was looking like another silver. I'm so happy it was a gold."

Picture by SWpix.com - 16/04/2017 - Cycling - 2017 UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Day 5 - Hong Kong Velodrome, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong - Men's Madison Finals - STEWART Mark and WOOD Oliver of Great Britain.
(Image credit: SWpix.com)

Elsewhere French pair Banjamin Thomas and Morgan Kneisky took the madison world title, with young British duo Mark Stewart and Ollie Wood pulled from the race before the final having lost two laps.

Katy Marchant was unable to break through the first round of the Keirin, with Germany's Kristina Vogel taking the gold.

Academy rider Joe Truman finished 11th in the kilo, which was won by France's François Pervis.

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Richard Windsor

Follow on Twitter: @richwindy


Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.


An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).