Track Cycling World Championships: Katie Archibald wins silver as British women take bronze in team pursuit

Katie Archibald won a silver medal in the women’s elimination event while Great Britain took bronze in the women’s team pursuit at the World Track Championships.

Two-time Olympic champion Archibald was competing in an elimination for the first time at the World Championships and the race took three attempts to start due to crashes.

With the number of riders reduced to four in Santiago, Chile, Archibald made the final sprint to beat France’s Victoire Berto and claim her 16th world medal overall.

Belgian Helen Hesters then withdrew, leaving a fast competition with Irish Lara Gillespie, who opened a gap when she rushed towards the goal line and Archibald was unable to catch up with the European champion to win her first world title.

“I’m really happy to get to this point to compete when the racing is different in the last two races [laps, the match sprint]“I didn’t have legs,” Archibald said.

“It’s really special and I’m so proud of my country and our little team here. It took focus and composure and I kept believing,” Gillespie said.