British sprinters back on podium to usher in a new era
The British men won their first team sprint medal in seven years at the track worlds in Apeldoorn, boasting a strength in depth that bodes well for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and beyond.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QHFzy8z4YUhEdfEsU7Bh8F-415-80.jpg)
GB men's team sprint silver medal Apeldoorn. Photo: swpix.com
Five British riders stood on the podium to collect their team sprint silver medals in Apeldoorn. Alongside 29-year-old Jason Kenny, one of Britain’s greatest Olympians and the ‘old man’ of British Cycling’s sprint squad, stood Phil Hindes (25), Ryan Owens (22), Joseph Truman (21) and Jack Carlin (20).
Over the course of three rides on the opening night, the five riders were swapped in and out of the three-man event to win Britain’s first team sprint medal in seven years. This level of flexibility is very different to the team’s traditional approach, but in part has been forced upon them by the strength in depth the squad currently enjoys.
“The British sprint team has taken a bit of slack for not performing outside the Olympic Games.” Admitted head coach Justin Grace. “We wanted to be back up there. It was 13 years straight on the podium before [2011 their last medal in the event], so after seven years of not being on there, I wanted to do that. I thought it would be really good for the team culture.”
>>>>Check out Great Britain's new Cervélo T5
Grace put the success down to a number of factors but said that “the competition we've got definitely helps, there's no doubt a bigger program can raise it to another level." Sixth man, and Olympic champion in the event, Callum Skinner was sitting out the team sprint this year as he focuses on the kilometre in order to improve his start.
A key change is around the crucial man one position. Without a rider who can ride a sub 17.5 second opening lap a team will struggle to make the podium. Having concentrated on that position since 2012, Phil Hindes is now in the process of trying to transform himself in to a match sprinter. Jack Carlin adequately stepped in to his shoes in Apeldoorn (he also rode man one in Hong Kong last year when the team didn’t medal) riding consistently through the three, tightly packed races, even matching his 17.182 sec PB in the gold final.
“GB have been known for the last twelve years for being very strong at man one and that roll is a hard one to take up. There's probably three of us now in the team that could pull out a world-class time. Ryan Owens can, and Phil can still do it. Every rider can probably fill two positions right now and that fills us with confidence." Carlin said.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Obviously we came here to win, but there was no way we were going to beat the Dutch team today.”
Both the men’s and women’s team pursuit squads looked comfortable in their qualifying and round one races. The women were the second fastest team on the track after the USA, while the men were fastest in both their rounds putting out 3-55.714 and 3-56.335 minute rides to put them in the final against Denmark on day two.
The absence of Australia, winners of the event in six of the previous eight years, will always leave a question mark (Britain’s old foes chose to focus on the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast this year), but the times are impressive for a young team still very much in their development phase.
The Netherlands took home two of the three gold medals on offer on day one, along with another silver they made for a great start for the home nation. Before the men won the team sprint ahead of Great Britain, erstwhile track rider Kirsten Wild produced a powerful display in the 10km scratch race, riding away from the field in the last five or six laps. Wild had been caught back in the bunch as Katie Archibald set off in pursuit of the splintering break. By the time Archibald had bridged the half lap gap she was starting to suffer and couldn’t hold on to Wild when she stormed past.
The pair had made their move and both had to keep going or be swamped by what was left of the bunch. Wild easily held on to win, celebrating down the back straight with half a lap to go, while Archibald finished in sixth. The Scot had ridden the team pursuit earlier in the afternoon as she starts her punishing five day schedule. She is set to also ride the omnium and Madison.
Germany were back on the top step of the women’s team sprint podium as the multiple world champions Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel again combined to win gold. The Netherlands were again on the podium, coming second. Russia took the bronze while Britain’s Katie Marchant and Lauren Bate finished sixth.
Thank you for reading 20 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
Editor of Cycling Weekly magazine, Simon has been working at the title since 2001. He fell in love with cycling 1989 when watching the Tour de France on Channel 4, started racing in 1995 and in 2000 he spent one season racing in Belgium. During his time at CW (and Cycle Sport magazine) he has written product reviews, fitness features, pro interviews, race coverage and news. He has covered the Tour de France more times than he can remember along with two Olympic Games and many other international and UK domestic races. He became the 130-year-old magazine's 13th editor in 2015.
-
How to watch the Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
Get all the information you need to watch the action of the men's and women's Olympic cycling time trial at Paris 2024
By Cat Glowinski Published
-
Ribble Cycles looking to capitalise on 'big summer of sport' with 30% off highly-rated models
Direct-to-consumer Ribble Cycles has always been rated highly among the Cycling Weekly tech team. This is our pick of the best Road, Gravel and E-bikes from their 'Summer Sale'
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
British Cycling says first two stages of Tour of Britain will be most 'challenging' in race's history
Riders set to face 5,000 metres of climbing across first two stages in the Scottish borders and northern England
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Former British champion Alice Wood to retire at end of 2024
28-year-old calls time on nine-year career as a pro
By Tom Davidson Published
-
WorldTour teams cite Brexit and race uncertainty as reasons for skipping Tour of Britain Women
Only four of 15 Women's WorldTour teams set to take start line in Welshpool next month
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've both cried during blocks': Inside the Olympic preparations of GB's track sprinting stars
Counting down the days to the sprint finals at the Olympics, Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell tell Tom Davidson about their final push to find that decisive tenth of a second
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Great Britain qualifies full track cycling squad for Paris Olympics
Team GB will now select up to 16 riders to compete across the sprint and endurance events
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Welsh Grand Départ for first ever Tour of Britain Women, British Cycling confirms
Race will get underway in Welshpool before concluding in Greater Manchester four days later
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Exclusive: Men’s Tour of Britain stages cut to seek parity for women’s race
British Cycling aim to increase women’s Tour of Britain to six stages in 2025 in order to create full parity between the two events
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Talks underway to take Tour of Britain Women to Wales this year
Wrexham Council in discussions with British Cycling officials to host second stage as race potentially set to start in Wales
By Tom Thewlis Published