Defending champions Team KGF suffered an ill-timed mechanical issue to falter in the gold medal final of the HSBC UK British Track National Championships men’s team pursuit in Manchester on Sunday.
An issue with a wheel meant that the squad of Jacob Tipper, Dan Bigham, Charlie Tanfield and Jonathan Wale was left with two riders and they were subsequently easily caught by rivals 100% ME consisting of Ethan Hayter, Matt Walls, Jake Stewart and Fred Wright, who therefore claimed the national title.
Team KGF had fielded two line-ups in the team pursuit, an A and B team.
The A team had to settle for silver while the B team consisting of John Archibald, Ethan Vernon, Harry Tanfield and Simon Wilson went on to win the bronze medal final after catching the University of Derby Cycling Club team to give the squad two places on the podium as consolation.
KGF had been the favourites to take a resounding victory in the event after recently winning the final round of the UCI World Cup in Minsk, Belarus.
Earlier in the championships KGF had dominated the individual pursuit, with Charlie Tanfield, Bigham and Archibald placing first, second and third. Archibald also claimed his first national title in the men’s points race.
