European Circuit Championships: Katie Archibald wins 19th title extending record for number of entrants | Cycling News

Katy Archibal made it through all four rounds of the championship to claim her 19th European title; Ollie Wood won the gold medal in the scratch race; Dan Bigham won silver in the individual pursuit; Sophie Capewell wins bronze in individual sprint

Katie Archibald celebrates her 19th European title

Katie Archibald added a 19th European title to her record inventory with a display of pure first-place dominance as England celebrated two golds out of four on day three of the Championship. champion in Switzerland.

A day after helping Great Britain win a gold medal in team pursuit, Archibald made it through all four laps of the championship, winning scratch, speed and knockout races before taking the win as is one of three riders to win a lap on the field at the species decision points.

Archibald started the final race knowing that to secure the gold she only needed to overcome a number of opponents, most obviously Poland’s Daria Pikulik. But the British driver did more than that, joining the attack from Danish driver Amalie Dideriksen midway through for an extra 20 points having won a lap.

The 28-year-old finished with a 31-point lead over Pikulik – a stunning result in an event seen as qualifying for the Paris Olympics for the first time.

“I have five really big goals between now and the Olympics – that’s one way to look at it but the other is it’s a European title and that’s what I’m always happy about,” Archibald said.

“I was quite nervous. The scratch race didn’t give me the same satisfaction as usual, especially if you win, you feel confident, but I think I tried too hard. Turns out other people did too. I tried my best.”

Ollie Wood, part of England’s men’s team pursuit team that won a silver medal on Thursday, had previously won his 10th European medal but first gold with a superbly well-timed strike. in the rake race.

Wood stormed out of the group as they passed the final lap bell and didn’t appear to be caught as the 27-year-old sat up to celebrate in front of the line.

Wood’s teammate, Dan Bigham, had to take a silver medal in the individual pursuit after dominating the qualifiers.

Bigham, racing at the track where he set the short-lived UCI Hour Record last August, has set a new track record – and sixth fastest ever – to top the group in qualifying and lead three of the first four kilometers in the race. Final.

But Italy’s Jonathan Milan used his advantage late in the game and took a slightly more than 500-meter lead to claim the gold medal.

There was also a very encouraging bronze medal for Sophie Capewell in the women’s individual sprint, one of the 24-year-old’s career best results as she defeated the world champion. Mathilde Gros in medal content.

Capewell, part of the team that won a sprint silver medal on Wednesday, lost in the semi-final to Lea Friedrich but comfortably beat Gros 2-0 in the bronze medal match.

The day’s performance puts England at the top of the medal table with 8 medals, just 7 more than Germany, which will take place at the weekend.