KATIE ARCHIBALD joined the pantheon of Scottish track greats after winning her first individual world gold medal with a display of courage and determination in Hong Kong.

The 23-year-old from Milngavie clinched victory in the omnium in the final metres of the last race of the four-event, day-long competition which she had led from the start.

Archibald's win added to her Olympic and world team pursuit crowns but this was the first time cycling's maverick talent had the the coveted rainbow jersey all for herself.

"It feels very strange, I'm used to having my girls, my team-mates, around me so it's odd to celebrate by yourself," said Archibald, who later tweeted: "Waaaaaaaaaa."

"But this feels the same as winning with team-mates. All rainbow jerseys are the same."

Archibald, who goes for the double in the individual pursuit today, hugged the rainbow jersey as she added: "I was really worried I'd lose this and I'd put myself so much in the red I'd lose the pursuit.

"At least this is mine now and I can't lose it. I feel really privileged to pull it off. It was an unbelievably grippy race, I really thought I'd lost it in the middle point but I pulled it out of the bag."

Archibald won the opening two events - the scratch and tempo race - of the omnium which has been reduced to a one-day format only since Rio.

That gave her a lead of eight points to take into the final two disciplines. But after finishing fifth in the elimination race which Amy Cure won it left them level pegging going into the points decider.

Archibald, with her famously fluorescent pink hair poking from out of her helmet, increased the lead in the first few sprints, but then seemed to be struggling as the Australian responded cutting the deficit.

But she forced her way back into the pack. Then on the final sprint, which carried double points, took fourth to win by eight points from Holland's Kirsten Wild who snatched silver from Cure.

"I thought it was all over, I thought I was done for," admitted Archibald, who had been powered on by a 'Racey Katie' banner in the stands of the Tseung Kwan O velodrome. "Then when I got back into it I was still burning matches unnecessarily.

"I was sprinting for fifth at one point and I was like 'what are you doing. You just got dropped, calm down' and then I just went single-minded and thought 'I am either getting on Cure's wheel or Wild's.

"I just following them and I am just staying there until the end. Then it was a case of emptying the tank. When I crossed the line I was like 'argh, it hurts'. I thought I'd lost my moment.

"The crowd went quiet and I couldn't breathe. I did a lap and I thought 'oh no, they're not cheering anymore'.

"I was like 'I'm ready now. I'm ready to celebrate'. I'm still feeling it now actually, getting a bit dizzy."

Callum Skinner, though, will not be joining 2008 champion and idol Sir Chris Hoy on the list of Scottish riders to have won the world sprint title.

The Olympic silver medallist's lack of preparation compared to his rivals told as he went out in the second round.

Skinner qualified with the 15th fastest time (9.969secs) but that put him up against second fastest qualifier Max Niederlag and the German proved too strong at the finish.

"To come here and do a 9.9 and only make it past the first round, I'll be honest, I am disappointed," admitted Skinner, born in Glasgow, but who grew up in Edinburgh before moving to British Cycling's base in Manchester.

"I'm just in a different place to where I was before Rio. I had a good month off afterwards, where I wasn't looking after myself and enjoying myself, seeing friends and really switching off.

"I think taking time off was so important. I think I've done it the right way. I had a month of tip-toeing into it. In terms of solid track preparation, it's only been about three months or something like that.

"Preparation is key and I think that's something that's been lacking this time around.

"I've tried to come into this competition without putting too much time on myself. It was a bonus to get selected and we've got some real nice long-term projects. Looking to build and move forward."

Mark Stewart, the 21-year-old from Dundee who finished fourth in the team pursuit on Thursday, produced a gutsy display in the points race. He led after the first few sprints, but faded to seventh as Australia's Cameron Meyer dominated.